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Warr Acres police shooting: 22-year-old Samuel Varelas Jr. dies after chase, crash

Samuel Varelas Jr., 22, died after being shot by Warr Acres police following a chase that ended in a crash and an exchange of gunfire, authorities said. The officer who fired is on routine administrative leave as the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation continues its inquiry.

Warr Acres police shooting: 22-year-old Samuel Varelas Jr. dies after chase, crash

WARR ACRES, Okla. — A 22-year-old man shot by Warr Acres police after a pursuit earlier this week has died, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation confirmed.

Samuel Varelas Jr. was shot by officers after a chase that ended when his vehicle struck a power pole and he ran into a nearby yard, according to authorities. Investigators said Varelas fired at officers during the encounter. No officers were injured.

The officer who shot Varelas has been placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which the OSBI is leading. The agency has not released further details about what prompted the pursuit or how many shots were fired.

The shooting occurred Monday in a Warr Acres neighborhood, where residents reported being jolted awake by the sound of a crash and gunfire. The pursuit and subsequent shooting remain under investigation.

Warr Acres is a suburban community of roughly 10,000 residents bordering Oklahoma City. The death marks at least the second fatal officer-involved shooting in the metro area in recent weeks, following a separate incident in southeast Oklahoma City in which police shot and killed a man who authorities said fired at officers.

Under Oklahoma law, law enforcement agencies typically place officers involved in shootings on paid administrative leave while the OSBI conducts its investigation. Findings are then forwarded to the district attorney's office, which determines whether the use of force was justified.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the OSBI.

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