Update 5 p.m.: Repeated calls and messages throughout the day Friday to contact Casper Department, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the Natrona County Coroner's office weren't responded to or returned. No new information on the shooting has been made available, including an identification of the man killed in the incident.
CASPER — A suspect was shot and killed by Casper police Thursday night when he allegedly tried to get control of an officer’s firearm during an attempted arrest, the Casper Police Department reports.
The suspect, only identified as a male, was contacted at about 9:30 p.m. when the CPD was called out to a reported disturbance in the 5000 block of Pay It Forward Drive, the agency reports.
“During the investigation, officers attempted to take an individual into custody,” Casper police report in a news release about the incident. “In the course of these efforts, the suspect attempted to gain control of a firearm and was subsequently shot by an officer.”
The release goes on to report that immediately after the suspect was shot, officers “immediately began first aid efforts and the subject was transported by ambulance to Banner Wyoming Medical Center, where he was later pronounced deceased.”
Attempts to contact the Casper Police Department on Friday morning were not immediately successful.
Police report no officers were injured in the incident and that “there is no continuing threat to the public and no disruption of the normal flow of traffic and access to the private residences in the apartment complex, which are not involved with this incident.”
As per protocol with officer-involved shootings, the Casper Police Department has turned over the investigation to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.
A Casper DCI officer referred Cowboy State Daily questions about the shooting to a Casper office commander who was not immediately available.
The news release states the officer involved in the shooting has been placed on the administrative leave.
“The investigation into this incident is only in the beginning stages,” the news release stated.
The Casper Police Department is asking for anyone with information about the incident to contact the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation at 307-261-2194.
No other information about the incident was available, including the identities of the suspect and officer.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
