An exchange of gunfire between two vehicles on Indian Hills Road near Newalla last Thursday ended with four people under arrest as deputies responded to the scene. The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office said the shootout broke out around noon close to the Pecan Valley Junction convenience store, sending deputies rushing to an area where witnesses described shots fired between a gray Toyota truck and a gray Honda car.
According to the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office, deputies were dispatched to the scene shortly after noon following reports that the two vehicles had exchanged fire while traveling the roadway. Witnesses who spoke to investigators described the gunfire passing between the truck and the car, according to okcfox.com. The sheriff's office has not said what preceded the gunfire or whether anyone was hurt.
Sheriff Vows Accountability After Reckless Gunfire
Cleveland County Sheriff Darrell Weaver said the danger posed by the shootout extended well beyond those directly involved. “Exchanging gunfire on a public roadway creates a serious and unnecessary risk to innocent motorists and others traveling or conducting business in the area,” Weaver said, per the sheriff's office statement. He added a blunt warning for anyone involved: “We will not tolerate criminal behavior that could put innocent lives at risk. Our office will continue to pursue those who engaged in this reckless behavior and ensure they are held accountable for their actions.”
Four suspects connected to the incident were arrested.
Four Suspects, Four Different Custody Statuses
Jesse Owens was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant and now faces a stack of additional charges tied directly to the shootout: possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, assault and battery with a deadly weapon, use of a vehicle in the discharge of a weapon, and possession of CDS paraphernalia. Those charges align with conduct described under Oklahoma's statute on shooting or discharging a firearm with intent to kill and assault with a deadly weapon, according to Oklahoma Legislature records.
Torey Harris and Kenneth Doner II were each arrested on outstanding warrants of their own. A fourth suspect, Brody Williams, was also arrested on an outstanding warrant.
Little Axe Schools Briefly Locked Down After Rifle Reports
Little Axe Public Schools was placed under a brief precautionary lockdown after reports of a woman with a rifle. The lockdown ended after police found no evidence to corroborate the reports.
