Tribal leaders say that a citizen of the Northern Arapaho Tribe was shot and killed by law enforcement in Riverton on Saturday.
"We are working diligently with local and federal officials to learn more details regarding this incident, and will release additional information to the public as quickly as possible," the council wrote in a statement. "Our prayers are with the family and loved ones of the tribal member."
In a statement posted on the Riverton Police Department's Facebook page at 3:20 p.m. on Saturday, Riverton Chief of Police Eric Murphy said that his department was "currently working a shooting that occurred outside of Walmart" alongside the Division of Criminal Investigations and the Fremont County Sheriff's Office. A vehicle from Wyoming's Regional Response Team for Fremont, Sublette and Teton Counties was also on the scene.
Officers on the scene declined to provide further details about the shooting, but the Northern Arapaho Business Council said in its statement that the victim was killed by law enforcement. Wyoming's Division of Criminal Investigations typically investigates police shootings in the state.
The Walmart remained open despite police closing its south entrance and taping off an area between its two entrances. What appeared to be the victim's body covered with a white sheet was visible from outside the police barrier until at least 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.
The victim of the shooting has not been identified by law enforcement or by the Northern Arapaho Tribe.
Have a question about this story? Contact the reporter, Savannah Maher, at smaher4@uwyo.edu.
