OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – An employee of a Hobby Lobby distribution center in central Oklahoma shot dead a 69-year-old manager Wednesday, according to police.
Emergency services responded around 5 p.m. after calls came in reporting a shooting at the facility, located near SW 44th and Council Rd.
When officers arrived on scene, they found a dead person. Police subsequently identified the victim as Douglas Smith.
Police said the employee, identified as 32-year-old Domonique Thompson, had a disagreement with Smith, the manager.
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At one point, Thompson allegedly pulled out a gun and fatally shot Smith before fleeing in a red Dodge Charger.
Around 7 p.m., authorities spotted the vehicle in Payne County and attempted to pull the driver over. However, the driver refused to stop and gave chase.
Trooper Eric Foster, of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, confirmed to KFOR that the Dodge Charger’s license plate matched that of the distribution center. The description of the suspect also matched.
The chase eventually ended along Hwy 33 just northwest of Cashion when the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed.
Police officials said Thompson refused to surrender peacefully and a standoff ensued, prompting law enforcement from nearly a dozen different agencies to respond to the scene.
Oklahoma City Police Department officials said Thompson died during the standoff, but did not immediately provide further details.
“Today, our Hobby Lobby family mourns the loss of a valued and respected employee, Doug Smith, to a senseless and devastating act of violence,” David Green, founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby, told KFOR in a statement. “Our hearts are broken. We ask everyone to pray for Doug’s family, friends and colleagues, along with the first responders who moved quickly to protect our employees and secure our facility.”
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