In the early evening of September 23, 2021, a tragedy unfolded on the streets of Altus, Oklahoma, that claimed the life of 18-year-old Cory Daniel Bustamante, a Black male from Wichita Falls, Texas. Just after 7:00 p.m., while driving his car on Chris Street, Bustamante was shot. The momentum of the vehicle, now without a driver in control, caused it to speed away, striking a parked car in a residential driveway before colliding with another vehicle and coming to a final rest near the
intersection of Chris and Blain Street.
Emergency responders arrived at the chaotic scene and transported Bustamante to Jackson County Memorial Hospital. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries. The Altus Police Department quickly began a homicide investigation, with witnesses reporting they had seen a Black male running south from the area immediately following the sound of the gunshot. In the initial stages of their inquiry, police had not identified any suspects and reached out to the community for assistance, offering a significant reward for any information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the young man's death.
A break in the case came on September 28, 2021, when the Altus Police Department arrested 18-year-old Jason Amador, a resident of Texas, in connection with the murder. Amador was subsequently charged with First Degree Murder and Robbery. Investigators believe that Amador was a passenger in the vehicle with Bustamante when the shooting occurred. It is alleged that after the shot was fired, Amador exited the car and fled the scene. The investigation remains active, as law enforcement continues to search for a third individual who was also present during the incident and is believed to be the person who fired the fatal shot. The Altus Police Department continues to urge anyone with knowledge about the case to come forward.
