A man accused of shooting and injuring a sheriff’s deputy was charged Monday with four felonies.
Forty-eight-year-old Wesley F. Buford was charged with assault and battery with deadly weapon - likely to produce death. A court document states Buford shot Deputy Austin Murray.
Deputy Murray was treated and released at a hospital for injuries to a thigh and hand, according to the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Johnny Christian said Murray is recovering at home and doing well. Buford also was charged with three counts of domestic assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and a court document states he used an automobile to strike his wife and two children.
According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, deputies were dispatched at approximately 10 p.m. Sunday to a residence at Highway 78 and Camino Drive near Hendrix. When deputies arrived, they encountered Buford.
“During the investigation, OSBI special agents learned that Buford rushed towards deputies while possessing a firearm, leading to an officer-involved shooting,” OSBI said, in the news release.
Buford also was injured and he was treated and released, according to OSBI. The agency said Buford was booked into the Collin County, Texas, jail, pending transfer to Bryan County.
The sheriff’s office requested OSBI assistance in the case.
“This is still an ongoing investigation at this time,” OSBI said in the news release Monday. “The OSBI would like to thank the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, Bryan County District Attorney’s Office, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation for assisting us with this case.”
In other news, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at a home at 504 North Fourth Ave. on the corner of Elm Street in Durant Monday morning and several people were taken into custody.
Durant Police Sgt. and public information officer Nick Spencer said Tuesday that there is an ongoing investigation and that police are unable to comment.
