Bodycam Shows Police Shooting of Trae Spurlock

On June 6, 2024, Casper, Wyoming, police responded to a domestic-disturbance call at an apartment on Pay It Forward Drive. The encounter eventually ended with the fatal police shooting of 26-year-old Trae Spurlock, whose death was later investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.

Officers Respond to a Domestic Disturbance

According to reports, officers arrived after a woman reported a domestic-violence incident. When officers attempted to contact Spurlock, he was on the balcony of the apartment with a rifle nearby.

Rather than immediately moving toward him, officers spent several minutes talking with him and attempting to persuade him to move away from the firearm. The released bodycam footage documents much of this conversation.

Officers Try to Keep Him Away From the Rifle

The situation remained tense because the rifle was within Spurlock's reach. Officers repeatedly asked him to move farther inside the apartment so they could continue the conversation away from the weapon.

During the encounter, Spurlock acknowledged that the rifle was real and made statements indicating that he did not intend to go to jail that night. Officers continued attempting to de-escalate the situation while keeping their attention on the firearm.

The Arrest Changes Everything

After speaking with officers for roughly 15 minutes, Spurlock acknowledged that he had pushed his girlfriend. An officer explained that the admission constituted domestic assault and told him that he would be taken into custody.

Spurlock initially appeared to understand the explanation, but when officers instructed him to turn around and place his hands behind his back, he refused. He then moved back toward the balcony where the rifle was located.

The Taser Is Deployed

As Spurlock moved toward the balcony, an officer deployed a Taser. The bodycam footage shows the confrontation immediately becoming more urgent.

Reports differ in how much of the critical movement can actually be seen on the available video. The News Letter Journal noted that the footage does not establish whether Spurlock remained mobile after being tased and before the gunshots were fired.

Seven Shots Are Fired

Immediately after the Taser deployment, officers fired their weapons. The Casper Police Department reported that seven shots were fired and six struck Spurlock.

Officers then moved to provide first aid while emergency medical personnel were called. Spurlock was transported to Banner Wyoming Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Shooting Is Investigated

The shooting was referred to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. The Casper Police Department released the bodycam footage while the investigation was ongoing, saying the release would provide additional context following the accidental release of preliminary information from the coroner's office.

The officer who fired the shots was placed on administrative leave during the investigation.

No Criminal Charges Against the Officer

In October 2024, Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen announced that the officer would not face criminal charges. His decision followed the investigation into the shooting. A report on the decision stated that the officer said Spurlock was reaching for the rifle, while also noting that this specific movement was not visible in the bodycam footage.

A Tense Encounter Captured on Bodycam

The Trae Spurlock case shows how a police call can develop over an extended conversation before changing within seconds. Officers spent considerable time attempting to keep Spurlock away from the rifle before the attempted arrest led to a sudden movement toward the balcony, a Taser deployment, and gunfire.

Because the bodycam footage does not show every detail of the final movement clearly, the video is important evidence but does not independently resolve every factual question surrounding the shooting.