One person arrested in shooting at basketball game

By Jeff Harrison
Managing Editor

An Oklahoma City teenager was arrested in connection with a shooting last week at a Del City High School basketball game.

The incident happened about 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17 after a boys basketball game between Del City and Millwood. At the conclusion of the game, a fight broke out inside John Smith Fieldhouse. The fight continued outside in the parking lot, police said.

An adult male was injured in the shooting. The man, who was not affiliated with either school, was transported by a personal vehicle to OU Medical Center. He is listed in stable condition, police said.

Four police officers were at the game. Two officers were working off-duty as security for Mid-Del Schools and two officers were on-duty. Several others responded quickly to the scene.

The next day, police arrested Chazz Doolin, 18, who is a student at Millwood High School. The suspect was arrested at a home in Oklahoma City on a complaint of possession of a firearm on school property and minor (under 21) in possession of a firearm. Police said he was initially arrested for shooting with intent to kill but the District Attorney’s office amended the charge.

According a probable cause affidavit, Doolin admitted to police that he was at the basketball game and was assaulted by the victim and fired shots. He said he had a 9mm Taurus handgun concealed in his pocket. He said he was attempting to leave the game when he was confronted by the victim who punched him in the face and brandished a firearm. Doolin said he then fired two shots at the victim inside the fieldhouse, and several times outside in the parking lot so he could get to his vehicle and escape the victim, the report states.

Surveillance video showed the incident. The suspect was seen running west through the parking lot while shooting to the north towards the victim who was returning gunfire, according to the affidavit.  Two 9mm shell casings were found inside the fieldhouse and several 5.7x28mm and 9mm shell casings were located in the parking lot.

Del City Police Maj. Michael Arterbury said they are seeking to have the charges amended.

“The DA’s office felt like there was a self defense aspect to this, so they asked to amend the charges to possession,” Arterbury said. “We’re looking further into our investigation and looking to have the charges amended again. We know this doesn’t sit well with the school and the community.”

Mid-Del Superintendent Rick Cobb released a statement Jan. 18 about the incident. He praised Del City police for a quick and thorough investigation and spoke out about negative portrayals of students and the school.

“Anyone who tries to paint our kids or our schools with a broad brush because of what happened simply doesn’t get who we are,” he wrote. “Let’s be vigilant about keeping each other safe, but let’s be intentional about lifting each other.”

Cobb said the district is reviewing its event procedures.

“We focus on safety and security but we can always be better,” he said. “And no matter what we put in place, following procedures with fidelity is critical.”