By Dylan Goforth
Phoenix Staff Writer
—
A Tahlequah man was shot and killed in Mayes County after he and a woman led authorities on a vehicle chase.
Dustin Shirrel, 30, of Tahlequah, was shot and killed about noon Thursday after he pointed a 9mm pistol at a pursuing group of law enforcers, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations.
Jessica Brown, OSBI information officer, said agents were investigating if Shirrel fired at the officers.
“There’s a lot of work to be done right now,” Brown said.
The OSBI reported officers with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Mayes County Sheriff’s Office and Grand River Dam Authority all fired at Shirrel.
“We have to see which bullets were fired by who,” Brown said. “We have a lot to do before our report is finished.”
Brown said the agency’s report eventually would be sent to the Mayes County District Attorney’s office, which would determine if the shooting was justified.
Shirrel, 30, was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Claudia Taylor, 32. The vehicle was reported stolen from Tahlequah.
Brown said a GRDA officer ran the tag number of the vehicle began pursuing it about 9:30 a.m.
Taylor stopped the car and was arrested on complaints of possession of a stolen vehicle.
A Mayes County Jail employee said Taylor was being held without bond until her court appearance today.
Shirrel fled from the parked vehicle into a nearby wooded area. Brown said officers with all three agencies followed Shirrel for almost a mile before Shirrel was shot and killed.
Brown said Shirrel, who court records show had a long criminal history, was on probation for possession of a stolen vehicle.
Reach Dylan Goforth at (918) 684-2903 or dgoforth@muskogeephoenix.com.
