Law enforcement officials in Muskogee said two 17 year-old runaways from Blair, Nebraska who died in an officer-involved shooting incident, had been on multi-state crime spree before they exchanged gunfire with officers on Sunday.
The unidentified youth encountered officers in the area of North 18th Street and Tollett Road after a citizen reported an attempted car jacking. When officers arrived they were informed that a truck had been stolen in the same area and when the vehicle was spotted, a short chase ended with the two occupants fleeing on foot.
Gunfire was exchanged and both suspects died during the incident. One was a female who was shot by officers while the other was a male who apparently committed suicide as officers closed in on his location.
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“We are aware of additional contact with law enforcement in at least one other state, and crimes that occurred in other states as well,” Muskogee police said in a statement on Monday. "We are currently working on confirming that information through the states of Florida and Arkansas."
Four Muskogee police officers are on routine paid administrative leave after the shooting. One of those officers suffered a hand injury after falling during the chase and has since been released from the hospital.
