CASPER - Casper Police Department reports they are investigating a Sunday afternoon that left a 34-year-old Casper man dead in the parking lot of a North Casper convenience store and gas station.
In a news release, police reported they responded to a report of shots fired at 3:33 p.m. on Sunday in the 700 block of North Casper and found the male with a gunshot wound.
“Witnesses on the scene identified an adult male suspect who was subsequently located and transported to the Casper Police Department for questioning,” the department reported.
Capt. Jeremy Tremel said the investigation continues and police were not releasing any further information on the type of weapon or number of people involved. Further details will be released when available, he said.
The victim was transported to Banner Wyoming Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, police reported.
Police were finishing photos in the parking lot at Max’s Convenience Store at 706 N. Center Street in Casper at 5 p[.m. The east entrance to the store and part of the gas pump area was blocked off by tape, while customers were still coming in the south entrance to purchase items.
Store clerk Brandon Wilder said he was working a busy afternoon shift about 3:30 p.m. and he heard a “pop” and a female coworker went outside because there were people gathering around her car.
“We just heard the pop and there was a bunch of people around her car, so she went to go look and I went to go grab napkins to help out and stop the bleeding,” he said. “I saw the gentleman’s body and he was still breathing at the time but then I had to come back inside because we kept having people come in the store.
The Chase
He said his boss shared video of the incident with police and his understanding from his boss was that the video showed a male running around the corner of the station being chased by others.
Once he turned the corner of the gas station the man being pursued turned and fired a shot into one of the males involved in the chase.
Wilder said he understood that two males and a female were running after the male who fired the shot.
Wilder said the “pop” was not loud, so he believes it was not a high-caliber weapon. He said the “gentleman” who did the shooting was a familiar face, but he did not know his name.
As he went back inside, Wilder said he saw the shooter walking south on Center Street under the I-25 underpass with his hands in raised in the air.
Man Raises Hands
Customer Ryan Hardman, said he was driving north on Center Street when he saw a police officer ahead of him flip around his car and head back south.
“There was a guy walking by where that bus stop is by Starbucks and as soon as the cop went by him he like lifted his shirt up and I saw that he had a gun,” Hardman said. “And then he instantly laid on the ground.”
Hardman said he pulled into the convenience store and gas station and saw a man on the ground with people trying to help him.
“They are like, some guy shot him,” he said. He said people mentioned allegations involving a female.
The victim was initially moving when Hardman arrived at the store, and he said police started CPR on him and then EMTs arrived and tried “putting something in his throat to help him.”
“But he was not conscious or moving at all by the time I left,” Hardman said.
The Chase
He said his boss shared video of the incident with police, and his understanding is that the video allegedly shows a male running around the corner of the station being chased by others.
Once he rounded the corner of the gas station, the man being pursued turned and fired a shot at one of the males involved in the chase.
Wilder said he understood that two males and a female were running after the male who fired the shot.
Casper police were still investigating Sunday evening and did not immediately respond to requests for information.
Looked Familiar
Wilder said the “pop” was not loud, so he believes it was not a high-caliber weapon. He said the “gentleman” who did the shooting was a familiar face, but he did not know his name.
As he went back inside, Wilder said he saw the shooter walking south on Center Street under the Interstate 25 underpass with his hands raised in the air.
Customer Ryan Hardman said the was driving north on Center Street when he saw a police officer ahead of him flip around and head back south.
“There was a guy walking by where that bus stop is by Starbucks, and as soon as the cop went by him, he like lifted his shirt up and I saw that he had a gun,” Hardman said. “And then he instantly laid on the ground.”
Hardman said he pulled into the convenience store and gas station and saw a man on the ground, with people trying to help him.
“They are like, ‘Some guy shot him,’” he said.
The victim was initially moving when Hardman arrived at the store, and he said police started CPR on him. EMTs then arrived and tried “putting something in his throat to help him.”
“But he was not conscious or moving at all by the time I left,” Hardman said.
The victim was transported away by ambulance.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is available.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
