Wounded Casper officer shot five times

CASPER — The officer wounded in a shootout with a suspect in east Casper on Sunday was struck by five or more bullets and remains in critical condition, the Casper Police Department said Monday.

The officer, whom police did not name, was taken to Wyoming Medical Center, where he received “immediate, life-saving treatment for his injuries,” the department said in a statement released Monday morning. That officer remains in critical condition and had received multiple blood transfusions by Monday afternoon.

“The extent of the Officer’s injuries are such that multiple shipments of blood and blood products were brought in to the Wyoming Medical Center by emergency ground and air transportation in order to replenish the local supplies of life-saving blood donations,” Casper Police Chief Keith McPheeters said in a statement. “Although the volume of blood loss undergone by the Officer has been slowed, blood loss continues to pose concerns for the Officer’s timely recovery.”

The man who fired at police died from gunshot wounds at the scene. Police say he unexpectedly drew a gun and fired at two officers who were responding to a vehicle complaint. The Natrona County Coroner’s Office identified him as 38-year-old David P. Wolosin of Casper. An autopsy is pending.

Casper’s United Blood Services clinic saw a flood of donations Monday, according to an afternoon news release provided by the clinic. More than 100 people donated blood at the Casper clinic Monday, an increase staff attributed to support for the injured officer.

“The entire Casper Police Department wishes to acknowledge the outpouring of support evident throughout the community,” McPheeters said. “We would like to thank the staff of the Wyoming Medical Center and the responding ambulance crew for their heroic efforts as they worked to render life-saving aid to our officer.”

Natrona County’s other law enforcement agencies covered calls in Casper on Monday, as they did Sunday evening.

“This assistance helps us continue to meet the needs of the officer and the rest of our patrol officers with no disruption in police services,” McPheeters said.

The department said it was not releasing the officer’s identity at this time out of respect for the officer’s family.

In a brief statement, Mayor Ray Pacheco asked Casper residents to pray for the city.

“As a man of faith and like many other people in Casper, I would suggest prayer for our city. I am asking those of faith to join with me to pray for healing for our injured officer and healing for our community,” Pacheco said in a news release. “Yesterday’s events have shaken all of us. I hope we can come together in prayer to support one another.”

Casper police posted a link to an online fundraiser on the department’s Facebook page Monday afternoon. People had donated more than $22,000 by about 6 p.m.

A police department spokesman Monday morning referred comment to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, which is examining the shootout. The DCI commander designated as press contact regarding the incident was not available for comment.

The shootout took place about 1:40 p.m. Sunday after officers responded to a vehicle complaint on the 1400 block of Fairdale Avenue. Neighbors and a lawyer representing the officers told the Star-Tribune that Wolosin was teaching two children to drive in a dirt lot near Fairdale Park, not far from the intersection of Beverly and 15th streets, when officers arrived.

The lawyer, Don Fuller, said Wolosin pulled a gun and shot one of the officers in the back. Four witnesses said they saw the man exchange gunfire with police before officers shot and killed him.

One neighbor said police pulled up in a parking lot above the dirt patch and shouted at Wolosin to stop the car.

Wolosin stopped and spoke to police, the neighbor said, then made a phone call.

The neighbor had turned around when he heard shots being fired. When the neighbor looked again, police were using Wolosin’s car as cover while they exchanged gunfire with the man.

Another neighbor heard gunshots and saw police crouching behind the car, exchanging gunfire with police. Wolosin continued to fire his gun even after being shot, the neighbor said.

One of the witnesses said the children were not hurt and were taken from the scene by their father.