In a tragic turn of events stemming from a workplace dispute, Douglas Lee Smith, a 69-year-old White male, was fatally shot on March 1, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The incident occurred at the Hobby Lobby distribution warehouse located in the 3700 block of South Council Road, where Smith was a manager.
The day took a fatal turn following a work-related argument between Smith and an employee he supervised, identified as 32-year-old Domonique Thompson.
After the disagreement, Thompson walked out to the parking lot, where he retrieved a firearm from his vehicle. He then re-entered the business and shot Smith, who was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Initial reports of an active shooter prompted a swift police response to the Hobby Lobby warehouse shortly before 5:00 p.m. Upon arrival, officers learned that it was an isolated incident involving two employees. Investigators quickly obtained a description of the suspect's vehicle and began a search for Thompson.
Later that evening, authorities located Thompson at a gas station near I-35 and Highway 51. When police attempted to stop him, Thompson fled, initiating a police pursuit. The chase, which involved the Oklahoma City Police Department's Air Support Unit and several other law enforcement agencies, extended beyond Oklahoma City limits. The pursuit ultimately concluded in Kingfisher County, near Highway 33 and N2960 Road, where Thompson crashed his vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
