Casino Crime Roundup: Alleged Oklahoma Casino Shooter in Jail

Posted on: May 22, 2024, 06:33h. 

Last updated on: May 22, 2024, 09:47h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

The suspect accused in the weekend shooting of a man at Tulsa’s Osage Casino Hotel is now behind bars.

Jonathan Shane Ford, 25, of Ponca City, Okla., was spotted Monday in a vehicle while on a local street in Tulsa. Officers assigned to the US Marshals Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force and Tulsa County deputies stopped the SUV and apprehended Ford.

During a search, authorities found a firearm, according to Tulsa TV station KOKI.

Immediately after his arrest, officers took Ford to OSU Medical Center in Tulsa. It’s unclear if he was injured during the apprehension or suffered from an ailment.

The shooting took place at about 2 p.m. Saturday in the Osage casino’s parking lot. The victim was hospitalized after suffering a leg wound but is expected to recover, according to police.

Following the gunfire, Ford fled from the parking lot in a 2014 Dodge Journey. The SUV had Ponca Nation tags, Kay News Cow reported.

Within about two hours, Osage Nation Police identified Ford as the suspect in the shooting. Two hours later, Ponca City police searched Ford’s apartment but he wasn’t home.

Oklahoma authorities continued to search for Ford, who was described as armed and dangerous, over the weekend.

It was unclear what circumstances led to the shooting. No one else was wounded by the gunfire.

Accused Casino Robber Punches Inmate

Chase Aaron Henderson admitted on Tuesday that he assaulted another prisoner while the two were incarcerated in a Nevada jail, according to a news report.

The attack took place on New Year’s Eve. If convicted for the assault, Henderson, 34, who also allegedly robbed a casino, could be sentenced to as much as six years behind bars just for the inmate attack.

Henderson agreed to a plea deal where a drug possession charge was dropped, according to The Record-Courier.

The victim, Jessie James Avalos, apparently recovered from his injuries.

Henderson is in custody on more than $3M bail. He remains charged with attempted murder, assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, and kidnapping charges.

Toomey is also in custody with his bail set at $1.67M.

Authorities said the two men forced casino employees and patrons into a locked room before stealing about $40K from the gaming property.

They were spotted by a Douglas County deputy minutes after fleeing the casino. Henderson pulled out a firearm and shot at the deputy’s vehicle three times, according to testimony presented during December’s preliminary hearing in the case.

The deputy whose vehicle was shot at escaped injury.

Both defendants previously have been convicted of crimes, according to The Record-Courier.

Henderson was out of prison for just four months when the casino robbery took place, the report said. Toomey also was on parole.