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Update: Suspect killed by police while fleeing standoff in Sheridan

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Posted at 10:42 AM, Feb 14, 2024
and last updated 2024-02-14 22:42:06-05

Update 8:10 p.m.

Authorities are now saying that the man suspected of shooting and killing a Sheridan police officer was shot and killed by police Wednesday evening following a 30-hour standoff.

The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation said in a news release that the suspect exited the home near Sixth Street and North Sheridan Avenue with a weapon and tried to flee. Officers from the Natrona County Joint SRT, Gillette Police Department SRT, working on behalf of the Sheridan Police Department, were on scene.

Wyoming DCI did not identify which officer or officers fired at the suspect and will conduct a full investigation.

Here's the full news release:

On February 14, 2024, SRT team members from the Natrona County Joint SRT and the Gillette Police Department SRT, working jointly on behalf of the Sheridan Police Department had surrounded a house near 7th Street and Sheridan Avenue, in Sheridan, Wyoming, where the suspect in the earlier shooting death of a Sheridan Police Officer had barricaded himself and refused to surrender. After more than 24 hours of negotiations and other tactics to get the suspect to peacefully surrender, the suspect exited the house with a weapon and tried to flee. The suspect was shot by police and pronounced dead at the scene. The Division of Criminal Investigation will be conducting an investigation into the Officer Involved Shooting at the request of the Sheridan Police Department.

Wyoming DCI is routinely requested to conduct objective and thorough investigations of critical incidents around the state. These investigations consist of, among other investigative procedures, scene processing, physical evidence and forensic processing, digital evidence analysis, and interviews. At the conclusion of this investigation, a detailed report will be prepared, internally reviewed, and provided to the Sheridan County Attorney’s Office for review and charging consideration. All available resources will be made available to Agents conducting this investigation to ensure the facts of what happened are collected in a timely, accurate and thorough manner. DCI has been in contact with the Sheridan County Attorney and will work closely with her office throughout the course of the investigation. Because this is an on-going and open investigation, the names of the involved parties will not be released by DCI at this time. We do not anticipate releasing additional information until the investigation is complete and a prosecutorial decision has been made. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact DCI at 307-777-7181.



Update 5:50 p.m.

Sheridan police captured Wednesday evening the suspect in a fatal police shooting in a standoff that lasted more than 24 hours.

The suspect, who was barricaded inside a home near Sixth Street and North Sheridan Avenue, was apprehended after he attempted to flee through an alley, according toSheridan Media.

The standoff ended at 5:12 p.m., Sheridan Police Chief Travis Koltiska said in a statement.

The suspect has not been identified by police. Sheridan Media and The Cowboy State Daily reported his name is William Franklin Lowery, 46, who has a lengthy criminal record.

He is suspected of shooting and killing Sheridan Police Sgt. Nevada Krinkee Tuesday morning.



SHERIDAN, Wyo. - A standoff between law enforcement and a suspect in the fatal shooting of a police officer continued Wednesday morning.

The suspect, who police have yet to officially identify, remains barricaded inside a home near Sixth Street and North Sheridan Avenue.

Sheridan police Sgt. Nevada Krinkee was killed Tuesday morning while attempting to serve a trespass warning.

RELATED: Sheridan police officer killed responding to call

Krinkee's body was taken to a medical examiner's office in Billings accompanied by a police procession on Wednesday.

The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation released this statement Wednesday:

The Sheridan Police Department requested the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) investigate a shooting which resulted in the death of a Sheridan Police Officer on Feb. 13, 2024. The incident occurred in the area of 5th Street and Val Vista Street, Sheridan, Wyoming. An associated scene is located near Sheridan Avenue and East 7th Street.

Investigating Agents and personnel arrived on-scene shortly after the request was received. The scene in the area of Sheridan Avenue and East 7th Street is still active and residents are asked to avoid the area until further notice. Multiple agencies have responded to assist Sheridan Police with this incident, including the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office, Gillette Police Department, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Casper Police Department, Natrona County Sheriff’s Department, Mills Police Department, Wyoming Game and Fish, local fire and EMS personnel, the FBI, the Bureau of Land Management and the ATF.

Wyoming DCI is routinely requested to conduct objective and thorough investigations of critical incidents around the state. These investigations consist of, among other investigative procedures, scene processing, physical evidence and forensic processing, digital evidence analysis, and interviews.

At the conclusion of this investigation, a detailed report will be prepared, internally reviewed, and provided to the Sheridan County Attorney’s Office for review and charging consideration. All available resources will be made available to Agents conducting this investigation to ensure the facts of what happened are collected in a timely, accurate and thorough manner.

DCI has been in contact with the Sheridan County Attorney and will work closely with her office throughout the course of the investigation. Because this is an on-going and open investigation, the names of the involved parties will not be released by DCI at this time. We do not anticipate releasing additional information until the investigation is complete and a prosecutorial decision has been made.

Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact DCI at 307-777-7181. We extend our most heartfelt condolences to the family of the Officer, the Sheridan Police Department, and the citizens of Sheridan County for their tragic loss.

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A memorial to slain Sgt. Nevada Krinkee outside the Sheridan Police Department.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.