Man dies in shootout on tribal grounds

Staff and Wire Reports

HARRAH, Okla. -- A man fatally shot by law enforcement officers on Kickapoo tribal lands has been identified as 67-year-old Frank Kaskaske.

FBI Special Agent John McLemore says officers from several Indian and non-Indian law enforcement agencies were called about 10 a.m. yesterday to a location near the Kickapoo Casino in Harrah. A caller told emergency dispatchers Kaskaske was drunk, disorderly and suicidal.

McLemore says Kaskaske fired multiple shots at the officers who arrived on the scene. Officers returned fire, killing him.

McLemore refused to release further details and would not say what type of weapon Kaskaske was using or whether any law enforcement personnel or equipment was hit by gunfire.

The family said the man was suicidal. They blame the officers fro not helping to calm their relative down before he allegedly fired the gunshots.

The family went on to say the tribal community is angry because they wanted to take the body for a proper burial immediately, but authorities transported the body to the Oklahoma City Medical Examiner.