Monday afternoon in Pauls Valley ended with the kind of noise nobody in a quiet trailer park expects: a burst of gunfire after a multi-county police chase came to a stop at their front doors. By the time it was over, one suspect was hospitalized and no officers were hurt, as neighbors watched a swarm of patrol cars, troopers, and emergency crews descend on the area.
What led to the pursuit
The trouble started around 4 p.m. when Purcell officers responded to a report that a man was harassing his ex-girlfriend and damaging vehicles. As the suspect took off heading south, Purcell police called in the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to help keep up with him, according to KOCO.
How the chase ended
Troopers joined the pursuit on Interstate 35, following the suspect as he crossed into Garvin County before leaving the highway near Airline Road and County Road 3220 in Pauls Valley. The chase finally stopped at a nearby trailer park. Officials say both an OHP trooper and a Pauls Valley Police Department officer fired their weapons after the suspect got out of his vehicle carrying what was described as a long gun. He was hit, then flown by air ambulance to a hospital, Radio Oklahoma News reports.
Officials and neighbors respond
Pauls Valley Police Chief Don May told reporters he was "thankful no one was killed" and said the suspect was in stable condition at a hospital, according to KOCO. Residents in the trailer park said the gunfire came in rapid bursts, sending people scrambling inside and peeking out from behind curtains as officers and troopers locked down the scene.
Investigation ongoing
The Garvin County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation and said detectives were collecting evidence and talking with witnesses at the park and surrounding area. Officials have not released the suspect's name or indicated what charges he might face as the case moves forward. Anyone with video or information has been asked to contact the sheriff's office through its official channels, according to the Garvin County Sheriff's Office.
Why it matters
This latest chase and shooting arrive on top of an already tense year for Pauls Valley, which has seen several high-profile incidents, including a January standoff that ended in an explosion and a separate April shooting at the high school. See Deadly Blast and Principal Shot in Lobby for background.
