BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is investigating a deadly shooting in the parking lot of the new Osage Hotel Casino outside of Bartlesville.
OSBI Public Information Manager Hunter McKee told 2 News an Osage Nation police officer responded for service at the Osage Hotel around 5 a.m. Tuesday morning. They said a man drove off in his blue truck, pulling the officer with him as the officer tried talking to him.
McKee said a bystander saw what was going on and shot and killed the driver. The officer is expected to be okay.
"Fortunately, no one else was hurt. No arrests have been made at this time, so we are still continuing to investigate," McKee said.
OSBI has taken control of the case since the shooter and victim are not tribal members.
The Osage Casino Hotel, off U.S. 60, has been open for less than a week. Residents, like Tjuana Boulinger, tell 2 News they feel it's bringing in the wrong kind of activity.
"It's scary for me because I have grandkids on this end of town," Boulinger said.
Bartlesville police found a 16-year-old boy dead on the road at the Highway 60 and 123 intersection last week. Police later said it was a shooting. It's less than two miles away from the new casino.
"This side of town really needed some work and needed to be built up," Boulinger said. "I don't know if this is the way to do that or not."
The Osage Nation police department responded in a statement:
We can confirm that an individual was shot and killed early this morning outside of the Osage Casino & Hotel in Bartlesville. Earlier reports that an Osage Nation Police Officer was responsible for this shooting are false. Neither the victim nor the suspect are tribal members; therefore, jurisdictional authority is under the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI). Osage Nation Police Department (ONPD) and Osage Casino & Hotel Security are fully cooperating with OSBI on this criminal investigation and will report all facts as soon as possible.
The Osage Casino Hotel said no casino employees were involved in the shooting and they are cooperating with OSBI. They said the safety of their guests is of the highest importance to them. The hotel is remaining open during the investigation.
The Osage County Sheriff's Office initially reported the incident involved a theft, but we've since learned it did not.
Even though there's an active investigation, the casino hotel is open.
OSBI is working the case with Osage Nation police and Osage Casino Hotel Security.
We will update this story as soon as we learn more.
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