Elk City Man Arrested After Allegedly Firing Gun in Moving Vehicle

May 23, 2023

By News Director Jared Atha

An Elk City man accused of chasing another man and firing a pistol was arrested and charged in Beckham County recently.

Court records show 22-year-old Matthew Dean Hansen was charged last week with one felony count of use of vehicle in discharge of a weapon.

A probable cause affidavit filed by the Beckham County Sheriff’s Office said that the incident occurred just after midnight on May 12 when officials with the Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a possible shooting that took place west of Elk City near OK-6.

The affidavit stated that a neighbor had witnessed the shooting, telling deputies that four shots shots came from a gray SUV’s.

A deputy was able to retrieve four 9mm spent casings from the scene.

A review of security footage from a nearby convenience store would show the SUV leave the parking lot at a high rate of speed, in what appeared to be an attempt to chase a fleeing Dodge Ram.

Later, authorities were able to locate the SUV that matched the description of the suspect vehicle parked at a business on 3^rd Street in Elk City, with one of it’s occupants being Hansen.

After being detained, Hansen along with the driver of the vehicle were taken to the Elk City Police Department for questioning.

There, he admitted to being the passenger in the vehicle that chased the pickup earlier in the night. Claiming the driver of the pickup had assaulted a friend.

Once they reached the driveway, Hansen would allegedly confess to firing off four rounds from his pistol, and said he had hid the pistol at his parents Elk City home.

The court document said that Hansen was arrested and the gun was later retrieved.