Carnegie man competent, ready for police shooting prelim

ANADARKO — On Thursday, a Carnegie man accused of shooting a Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement officer during an October 2021 standoff in Caddo County was declared competent after undergoing mental health treatment.

Following a competency review hearing, Caddo County District Judge David A. Stephens declared Taaron Jay Burcum, 31, of Carnegie, competent. He will have a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. March 20 for his felony counts of shooting with intent to kill and possession of a firearm while on probation, records indicate. The shooting charge is punishable by up to life in prison.

Burcum was charged with the felonies on Oct. 25, 2021.

A preliminary hearing for Burcum’s case had been scheduled for April 21, 2022, records indicate. However, he was found incompetent and ordered to be in need of treatment at the Oklahoma Forensic Center in Vinita following a competency hearing on April 4, 2022.

At the time of the Oct. 23, 2021, incident, Burcum had been out of prison on probation for less than a month for September 2022 Caddo County convictions for second-degree burglary, unauthorized use of a vehicle and eluding police.

Carnegie police were called that night to a reported stabbing at 515 E. Cedar but cancelled the response when no contact was made with anyone, according to the probable cause affidavit. Shortly before midnight they were called back to the home on the report of a possible shooting.

The Carnegie officers were joined by Caddo County Sheriff’s Deputies and BIA officers to provide lethal coverage, the affidavit states. During their approach to a camper at the home, a person inside told them to come back with a warrant.

Law enforcement continued moving forward when a gunshot rang out through a window, striking an unidentified BIA officer, according to the affidavit. Officers took cover and the Caddo County Special Response Team was called in.

Following a several hour standoff, Burcum was taken into custody from inside the trailer, the affidavit states. A loaded .22-caliber rifle with one spent casing was found inside the trailer.