A shooting outside the recently-opened Osage Casino & Hotel in Bartlesville, Oklahoma Tuesday left one person dead.
Police were present at the casino at the time of the shooting but did not fire their weapons. Instead, a bystander discharged their weapon when they noticed the suspect fleeing, ultimately killing them and ending their escape attempt.
The deceased was transported to the Oklahoma medical examiner’s office for a full examination.
Police were first alerted of a disturbance at the casino after a man was accused of using a stolen credit card.
According to the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), an Osage Nation Police Officer responded to the call from the casino around 5:00 a.m.
Upon arrival, they approached the suspect in a vehicle. Rather than comply with the officer’s instructions, the suspect began to drive off while dragging the officer with him.
Hunter McKee of the OSBI said that at some point during the escape, a bystander shot the suspect. Despite initial reports suggesting otherwise, the officer involved in the situation never discharged their weapon.
McKee said that the officer is doing fine, and investigators are speaking with witnesses to gather a full report.
Because the shooter and victim are not tribal members, the OSBI will carry out the investigation rather than a native force.
The casino said no employees were involved in the shooting. It also released a statement addressing the situation later in the day.
“We can confirm there was an incident in the parking lot of Osage Casino & Hotel in Bartlesville early this morning resulting in one fatality,” the statement said. “No casino employees were involved, and we are currently working with Osage Nation Police and the OSBI in their investigation. The safety of casino guests is of the highest importance. The casino hotel remains open as the investigation continues. We send our thoughts and sympathy to the family of the victim.”
The OSBI said that the hotel has fully cooperated with the investigation. The names of the officer, bystander, and victim have not been released.
It is unclear if the victim was guilty of fraud as first alleged. The focus of the investigation is centered on the blue pickup truck the victim was in inside the parking lot.
This was the second time in a few days that police presence was needed at the casino. According to the Osage County Sheriff, one person was stabbed there over the weekend.
The Osage Casino & Hotel chain has locations in Hominy, Sand Springs, Tulsa, Skiatook, Ponca City, Pawhuska, and Bartlesville. The Bartlesville location only opened for business on Thursday, November 16, a day after Osage tribal members were invited to come by for a viewing and tour of the facility.
The casino, located two miles south of Downtown Bartlesville, replaced an existing Osage casino that had been in operation since 2006. The new facility contains 521 slot machines, table games, a 102-room hotel, a restaurant, and an events room.
Naturally, there is a great deal of concern that the new facility has already been involved in two incidents involving the use of deadly weapons.
All Oklahoma casinos are built on tribal land or government land off of reservation sites. The 125-acre Osage Bartlesville site was awarded after the tribe submitted an application for the transfer for the purposes of gaming in 2014.
Grant is a sports and sports betting journalist who prides himself in his up-to-the-minute reporting on the latest events in the industry. A member of Virginia Tech’s 2021 graduating class, he has quickly put together an impressive portfolio since moving to the professional world full-time. Grant’s favorite sports to cover are basketball and both types of football (American and soccer), and he is pushing written, audio, and video content. He has been employed by companies as highly regarded as Forbes and continues on a great trajectory in the industry. When he’s not on the clock, you can find Grant at the gym, looking for adventures, or hanging out with his family.
Affiliate Disclosure: We at USALegalBetting.com partner with trusted online casinos & sportsbooks to bring you the best offers and promotions. When you click on certain links and deposit through our site, USALegalBetting.com may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
