DEPUTY CLEARED IN FATAL SHOOTING

EL RENO -- A Canadian County deputy who shot and killed a man running from
drug task force officers in August has been cleared of any wrongdoing,
District Attorney Cathy Stocker said Tuesday. Stocker said sheriff's
investigator Steve Carrell, 33, was correct in shooting Kevin W. Hofmaier.
Because of the shadows created by the landscape and time of the day, along
with Hofmaier's concealed position, Carrell could not see Hofmaier's hands
after he was ordered to hold them up, Stocker said.

Hofmaier quickly moved his hands from behind his back and extended his arms
in front of his chest in a shooting position, Stocker said.

"There is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing," she said. "No action by this
office is warranted. Carrell's actions were justified under the law."

Hofmaier was a passenger in a car that members of the task force tried to
pull over on Aug. 26. After trying to elude police, the car was driven into
a ditch and got stuck in the 400 block of S Ebeling Drive in Mustang.

Hofmaier, 25, got out of the car, which also had a man and woman inside,
and ran, police said. Shaun Daugherty, 26, and Rebekah Rios, whose age is
not known, were identified as the passengers by authorities.

Carrell identified himself and told Hofmaier to halt, police said.