On the morning of April 19, 2026, LeFlore County Deputy Sheriff Thomas Walker LeMay, 30, was shot and killed during a welfare check at a residence along U.S. Highway 270 near Wister, Oklahoma. Deputies arriving at the home were met with gunfire from inside; 36-year-old Edgar Lara had barricaded himself and engaged officers in a prolonged shootout. Wister Police Chief Andy Thompson was also struck but was reported in stable condition and expected to recover.

The standoff lasted several hours and drew a multiagency response, including the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, which has taken the lead. Lara surrendered around 4 p.m., was taken into custody and booked into the LeFlore County Jail; charges were described as pending. Deputy LeMay was remembered at the scene with a procession and a patrol car placed outside the courthouse as a memorial.

The motive for the welfare check and Lara’s actions remain under investigation. If anyone has information about the April 19 incident or knew Deputy LeMay, please share what you know.