Full Notification

The Beckham County Sheriff’s Office requested OSBI investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred at approximately 5 p.m. Tuesday in Sayre. Two deputies and a Sayre police officer responded to a 911 call regarding a possible drunk driver. When deputies arrived, they spotted the pickup truck stopped on the off ramp to Interstate 40. When officers attempted to make contact with the driver, he began driving, heading the wrong way on that ramp. A mile into the pursuit, a deputy pulled his car in front of the truck. The truck came to a stop near mile marker 24. The driver was incoherent and refused commands, even striking an officer in the face. Officers deployed their less lethal Tasers on Danny Joe Hillis (d.o.b. 11/1/1956) several times. Hillis continued to refuse to comply with officers’ commands. Hillis then attempted to drive away. One deputy fired his weapon several times at the vehicle trying to stop it. Hillis then struck the back end of a patrol car. By this time, other officers arrived on the scene and were able to arrest Hillis for assault on a police officer. He was booked into the Beckham County jail. OSBI agents will collect the facts in the case and present them in a written report to the district attorney. The district attorney will determine whether the shooting was justified – even though no one was injured.