OSBI Investigates Okmulgee Co. Deputy-Involved Shooting of Murder Suspect

Wednesday afternoon, a 9-1-1 call from a motorist alerted Okmulgee County authorities to a one vehicle crash involving a tractor trailer rig.

When EMS and fire crews got to the scene located at the Deep Fork Wildlife pond, they attempted to get the male driver out of the cab of the vehicle.

John Henry Neuman, 53, would not come out and was providing conflicting information about how many people were inside the truck’s cab.

A deputy arrived on the scene and told Neuman to exit the cab. Neuman exited the vehicle, raised a gun, and began shooting at those at the scene. The deputy returned fire, striking Neuman. Neuman, of Gore, fell from the truck into the pond.

Crews went to rescue Neuman from drowning when he rose from the water and began shooting again. The deputy returned fire. For a second time, emergency crews went to pull Neuman from the water. They attempted to revive him, but Neuman died at the scene.

At that point the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office called Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Investigative and crime scene agents from OSBI conducted an investigation.

Investigators quickly learned John Henry Neuman was out of jail with a monitor attached to his ankle for the 2015 murder of his wife in Sequoyah County.

OSBI will provide the district attorney with the facts of the case. The district attorney will then determine if the shooting was justified.