Osage County DA declares Nov. 21 Bartlesville casino shooting justified

Osage County District Attorney Mike Fisher said the fatal shooting of a man Nov. 21 at Bartlesville's Osage Hotel and Casino was justified.

"We have never formally received an affidavit for anyone's arrest, but after reviewing the reports, I made the decision that the shooting itself was justified, at least criminally," Fisher told the EE. "I wouldn't be able to prosecute that case."

Fisher identified Brandon Hines as the shooter in the incident and cited Oklahoma statutes about coming to the defense of another as his reasoning for declining to prosecute.

"In the state of Oklahoma, as in most states in the country now, you have a right and absolute right to come to the defense of another and to use deadly force if you believe deadly force is the only option available in trying to prevent somebody from potentially losing their life," Fisher said.

On Nov. 21, reports of an apparent burglary led to the deadly shooting of Beau Caskey in the parking lot of the casino, Osage County Undersheriff Gary Upton told the EE at the time.

After an Osage Nation police officer approached Caskey's pickup truck to question him about an alleged burglary, he was dragged across the parking lot as Caskey attempted to flee.

One of the alleged burglary victims who had arrived at the scene to identify Caskey shot and killed him as the officer was being dragged in the parking lot, Upton said.

Fisher said the security video provided by the casino satisfied that Hines actions were in accordance with the statute.

To view the security footage and hear what Hines told police about what happened, read Father and son recall fatal encounter at Bartlesville's Osage Casino.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Osage County DA rules Nov. 21 casino shooting justified