Officer-involved shooting — Man dies after firing at officers
WORLAND — A 37-year-old man fired at Worland Police officers who were attempting to make an arrest Monday night. Officers returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect.
According to a press release from Chief of Police Gabe Elliott, on Monday, July 14, 2025, at approximately 6:45 p.m., Worland Police officers were dispatched to the area under the New River Bridge (US 20 bridge) to investigate a report of a male subject who, according to the reporting party, appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance.
The reporting party indicated the male was alone, yet was yelling, screaming, throwing and kicking his belongings throughout the area.
Police are withholding the name of the male subject at this time.
Upon their arrival, the officers located the man standing outside of his vehicle. He immediately entered his vehicle when he noticed the first officer approaching.
Initially, the male subject refused to exit his vehicle to discuss all of the personal belongings being scattered about the area, but he eventually complied with the officer.
Other officers arrived on scene within minutes, one of whom was a supervisor who recognized the man from a previous call earlier in the day; that call involved a felony property destruction investigation.
The WPD supervisor advised the officers to place the man under arrest for the felony property destruction case.
As WPD officers attempted to place the male subject under arrest, he resisted arrest as he began to fight with the officers. As officers were attempting to gain control, the male subject produced a handgun and began shooting at the four WPD officers on scene.
Two WPD officers then returned fire and incapacitated the suspect, who succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
One WPD officer sustained non-life threatening gunshot injuries and was transported to the Washakie Medical Center, where he was treated and later released.
Agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigations responded to the scene and are conducting the officer-involved shooting investigation.
The two WPD officers who discharged their weapons have been placed on paid administrative leave, as is standard operating procedure in these situations, pending the conclusion of DCI investigations.
The WPD thanked the agencies that responded to the scene and continue to assist with the case: the Washakie County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Wyoming DCI, Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office, Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming State Parks, Cody Regional Medical, and the Worland Fire Department.
This story was published on July 17, 2025.
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