The man killed by law enforcement on Wednesday afternoon in Tahlequah shot at least once toward officers before they returned fire, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
A spokesperson for the OHP said on Thursday said James Gilbert Thompson Jr., 30, fired the first round and was met by return gunshots from two state troopers, two U.S. Marshals and a Cherokee County deputy, according to the Tulsa World.
Police had been looking for Thompson since Monday when he fired out of a vehicle at a Fort Gibson at a patrol unit trying to make a traiffic stop. Thompson was a passenger in the vehicle. When the driver failed to pull over for a traffic stop there was a short pursuit before the chase ended on Oklahoma 51 spur near the Tahlequah Municipal Airport.
Thompson fled on foot across an open field and gunshots were exchanged.
None of the officers were injured. Stewart said the driver was detained without incident and later released.
Thompson had a felony warrant in Wagoner County, as well as warrants in Muskogee and Cherokee counties, according to the Highway Patrol.
State prison records show Thompson served time for Muskogee County convictions that included eluding, running a road block, possession of a stolen vehicle, burglary, and possession of a controlled substance.
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