TAHLEQUAH —
A Tahlequah man was shot and killed Thursday after running from authorities in Mayes County.
According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Dustin Shirrel, 30, was a passenger in a stolen vehicle stopped by a Grand River Dam Authority police officer at about 9:30 a.m. Shirrel fled with a handgun and went into a wooded area, the OSBI said.
GRDA officers, troopers with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and deputies from the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office followed Shirrel about one mile into the wooded area where he headed after he bolted from the car.
During the search, Shirrel reportedly pointed a gun at officers from each of the three agencies, who then shot at and killed the suspect.
OSBI agents responded to the scene to investigate the shooting. The OSBI didn’t say whether Shirrel shot at officers, or how many times Shirrel was shot.
The OSBI said the GRDA officer had checked the vehicle’s tag and learned the Hyundai Sonata had been stolen from Tahlequah last week. When the officer tried to perform a traffic stop, the driver, Claudia Taylor, 32, of Tahlequah, led them on a pursuit, the OSBI said.
The car later stopped on the south edge of Pryor, reportedly after crashing near the wooded area, and Taylor was taken into custody for possession of a stolen vehicle.
The OSBI said once its investigation is complete, a report will be submitted to the Mayes County District Attorney, who will then determine whether the shooting of Shirrel was justified.
Shirrel was on probation for possession of a stolen vehicle, the OSBI said.
Court records show Shirrel had previously been charged in Cherokee County with felony counts of knowingly concealing stolen property, accessory after the fact, three counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, eluding a police officer, and attempting to elude.
He’s also had numerous misdemeanor charges in Cherokee County.
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