November 28, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Western Oklahoma Saturday, November 28, 2020 Weekend Edition Alleged home invader shot dead Elk City mother files following Elk City home invasion claim of negligence against Elk City Elk City man charged with second-degree murder related to death port as current court filings appear to show him to be the alleged Public Schools victim. ECPD officers at the scene entered the home to ensure that no one By Shonda Little else was inside and to secure the scene. At that time, officers discovered a deceased male subject on the On November 23, a Elk City mother filed a lawsuit on behalf of bedroom floor. The subject was reported to be surrounded by a large herself and her child, a minor, against the Elk City Public Schools, pool of blood. specifying the Elk City Elementary School. ‘The claim was filed on behalf of Skylar Cook and her minor Officers also observed a Walther .380 handgun on a small table in child by her attorney, L. Justin Lowe of Oklahoma City. the bedroom. ‘The homeowner was detained at that point and transported to ‘The filing showed that a jury trial is demanded. In the claim filed by Lowe, Cookis listed as the natural mother the ECPD. of the minor child and was at all times a resident of Beckham ‘The detective arrived and interviewed “several persons related to the incident.” County, as was the child. ‘The lawsuit stated, “at all times relevant her in, the employees ‘The detective then completed a search warrant affidavit and was granted the search warrant for the North Watkins residence. of the defendant, Elk City Elementary School, were acting under Samuel Castro Jr. Isaiah Torian Johnson He learned that the deceased male subject in the bedroom was and within the scope of their employment and/or as agents of the By Shonda Little 39-year-old Samuel Castro, Jr. defendant, the Elk City Elementary.” ‘The lawsuits claims that, on March 6, 20202, the defendant ‘The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office was contacted and ar- Following a deadly home invasion that allegedly transpired over rived later on the scene. was served by certified mail with formal notice of Cook's claims the weekend, one Elk City man has been shot dead and another sits pursuant to the Governmental Tort Claims Act and that statu- ‘The OMEO's investigator searched the body and located several in the Beckham County Detention Center on a $1,000,000 bond af- tory time period to deny, accept or settle the plaintiff’s claims has gunshot wounds. ter being charged with second degree murder related to the tragic lapsed and the claim is deemed denied. Castro's body was then transported to Oklahoma City for further event. investigation. ‘The general allegations in the lawsuit are related to an injury At approximately 5:30 am on Saturday, November 21, a detective that Cook and her attorney claim happened to her child on or ‘The detective then later interviewed the homeowner. about January 5, 2020. with the Elk City Police Department was contacted by the ECPD ‘That man, the alleged victim, stated that two men had entered his in reference to a male subject who was being treated for a gunshot It is be noted that this would have occurred during last year’s home and then entered his bedroom. school year. wound to the chest the Great Plains Regional Medical Center. He stated a large hispanic man, identified as Castro, had pulled At that time, the court filing claims the minor child was a stu- ECPD officers at the scene identified the patient as Isaiah Torian out a gun and pointed it at his face, demanding that the alleged vic- dent at the Elk City Elementary School when he sustained a bro- Johnson, a 25-year-old Elk City man. tim give him money. At the time, the detective was told that Johnson had reported ken arm after falling while running in the school hallway. ‘The alleged victim said that he was afraid he would be killed, so he ‘The lawsuit claims that principal had encouraged the child to. that he was walking between West Avenue B and West Avenue C on grabbed the gun and pointed it away from his face. run. the corner of North Watkins and heard gunshots when he realized ‘The alleged victim then reportedly stated that a struggle ensued “At the time of this injury, (ame omitted), was under the se~ that he had been shot in the chest. and that he was pushed back on his back on his bed by both men curity, supervision, custody and control of the principals, coun- Johnson was treated and released from GPRMC with the instruc- who had entered his home as he tried to get the gun from Castro's selors, teachers, personnel, agents, servants and/or employees of tions to return to have a bullet projectile removed from his right hands. the defendant, Elk City Elementary School,” Lowe wrote. arm that had deflected from his chest and still remained, the affi- ‘The alleged victim stated that he gained control of the gun and ‘The lawsuit alleges that the school, principals, counselors, davit claimed. fired the gun several times until Castro fell to the floor. The alleged teachers, personnel, agents, servants and/or employees were Johnson was then transported to the Elk City Police Department victim stated that the other man — who he described as a tall, skin- See Claim page 2. for investigative purposes. ny black male subject — ran out of the house. While ECPD officers were searching the specified area of North ‘The detective completed the search warrant on the crime scene Celebrating Watkins, a hispanic male exited a residence on the 600 block of and then returned to the ECPD to interview Johnson. North Watkins and informed an officer that the gunshots had come After what the detective described as a lengthy interview with from inside his home. Johnson, he stated that Johnson reportedly confessed that he had ‘That man was later taken into custody on what was said to be an Imnown Castro was carrying a handgun before they entered into the “investigative hold,” though his name is being omitted from this re- See Hom invasion page 2. interchange A teenage dream is coming to life innovation at for Rt. 66 Hall of Famer bike create profiles for the contest. They were paired off into five I-40 and SH-6 groups, each week with the top vote takers progressing. He has managed to stay in the game thus far, but the competition in getting more intense. ‘Voters can vote once per day for free. “{ definitely need people doing that,” he laughed. “Please go to my Facebook and vote every single day.” However, as the fundraiser element goes, voters can buy addi- tional votes each day. Some days, like on this last Tuesday, voters get 2-for-1 votes. Those opportunities pop up within each round. “That's the days you really see numbers moving around,” Mullenix advised. Mullenix reached out to the Elk City News for help winning the competition, which will go on until December 17. At that point, the winner gets to give their design to Tuttle, who Mullenix describes Don Mullenix Elk City is now home to the first Diverging Diamond Interchange as “about my age.” in the state of Oklahoma. ‘The winner will then be featured on the reality tv show at least ‘The Diverging Diamond Interchange at I-40 and SH-6. The antici- By Shonda Little once. pation of the opening of the DDI has been overwhelming at times, “Last week you had to be in the top 10 to go on,” he said. “This but now it is open and traffic is flowing smoothly. Elk City resident Don Mullenix is nothing if not a historian for week, you have to be #1 in your group” To learn more about why the Diverging Diamond Interchange was the red dirt community where he has lived his whole life. While Mullenix was only hoping to raised money for a no-kill selected for Elk City please go to the link provided below for their ‘The 64-year-old spent his childhood years on Blackburn Boule- shelter in New York's with the off-chance of winning his dream bike, virtual grand opening video celebrating the new design from the Elk vard on Elk City. He graduated from Elk City High School in 1974, he is no doubt a worthy feature. City Mayor, local elected officials, a local business leader and ODOT burning many teenage nights on motorcycles and daydreaming As one of Elk City’s native sons, he determined early in life that leadership. https://vimeo.com/479053453 about someday owning a chopper popularized in that area. he would stay here to build his adult life. Just three years after he Between the elk statues, oil derricks and lights it is really some- Now, a social media contest being held by the famed Orange graduated from Elk City High School, he started Don’s Detail. The thing for our community to be proud of especially since more than County Choppers as a fundraiser for the Hudson Valley Society for venture is fitting as all things automotive have been his life’s pas- 30,000 vehicles per day travel through Elk City along the I-40 cor- the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is giving him the opportunity sion, ridor. to win a custom job from Paul Tuttle himself. Mullenix has watched He got his first motorcycle when he was a tender 14. We think the DDI and its aesthetics will help travelers remember every episode of Tuttle's reality tv show. “I got that Yamaha 60 for Christmas and had it up until I was 16. where Elk City is located and draw them to stop and EAT, SHOP, Mullenix and many others hoping to win this once-in-a-lifetime See Dream page 2. STAY & PLAY in ELK CITY! Vol. 118, No. 96 a Te Weather tomorrow 52/28 75 cents, 8 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com