Elderly Ketchum Man Threatens Meals On Wheels Volunteers, Shoots At Deputies

NewsOn6.com

KETCHUM, Oklahoma -- An elderly Ketchum man is hospitalized after he pulled a gun on Meals on Wheels volunteers and got into a shootout with Craig County deputies.

Craig County Sheriff Jimmie Sooter said Don Bess fired at deputies six times before they shot back and wounded Bess in the arm.

The incident started at about 1 p.m. Monday when Meals on Wheels volunteers tried to make a delivery to Bess, who is in his late 70s. When they approached the residence, Bess showed them a pistol.

The volunteers, who Sooter said were pretty shaken up, contacted the Sheriff's Office. Deputies were familiar with Bess as they had been called to his home several times in past weeks because of other concerns from members of the family, the sheriff said.

Two deputies approached the house then backed off when they saw Bess reach for a pistol. They took cover, ordering the elderly man to drop the gun. Instead, Bess fired off six rounds at the deputies. He did not hit either law enforcement officer.

Bess was wounded once in the arm when the deputies fired back. He is in an area hospital listed in serious condition.

The two deputies have been placed on routine paid administrative leave until the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation can review the incident.