CASPER, Wyo. — A suspect was injured after a Casper police officer fired his weapon at the individual during a domestic violence investigation that began at around 11 p.m. Monday, May 30, the Casper Police Department said Tuesday.
The male police officer, who was not identified by name, fired his weapon when confronted by the armed suspect, according to the Casper PD’s press release. The male suspect barricaded himself in a residence on the 1900 block of South Missouri Avenue after being shot by the officer.
“For over an hour, officers were able to peacefully negotiate with the suspect,” the Casper PD said. “Ultimately, the suspect complied with the officers’ instructions and was taken into custody without further incident.”
The suspect’s injury was not life-threatening and he was provided medical care once in custody, according to the Casper PD. After being released from the hospital, the suspect was booked into the Natrona County Detention Center.
No other injuries have been reported as a result of the incident. The officer-involved shooting occurred when officers were attempting to serve an arrest warrant in an ongoing domestic violence investigation, according to the Casper PD.
The officer who fired his weapon has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation of the incident by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. This is the Casper PD’s protocol after officers use force.
“This protocol is in place to ensure the integrity of the investigation as well as to safeguard the mental health of the officers after a traumatic event,” the Casper PD said.
The determination as to whether the officer was justified in discharging his weapon will be made by the Natrona County District Attorney’s Office after the Wyoming DCI’s investigation.
The Casper PD’s Internal Affairs Division is conducting a separate investigation concerning the department’s policies and procedures. The department will hold a news conference to discuss the incident and findings of the investigation at a later date.
Correction, June 1, 2022: A previous version of this story listed the incident as occurring on Sheridan Drive. While the police department’s initial response started at the Sheridan Drive address, the shooting occurred on the 1900 block of Missouri Avenue, Casper PD Public Information Officer Rebekah Ladd confirmed Wednesday. This story has been updated to reflect this information.
