Authorities in Oklahoma and Texas are actively searching for an 18-year-old suspect linked to a weekend double shooting at a tribal casino.
The Osage County Sheriff’s Office has identified Malik Sampson as a person of interest in a shooting that injured two people early Saturday at the Osage Casino Hotel in Tulsa, a resort owned and operated by the Osage Nation.
Officers from the Osage Nation Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunfire at the casino on West 36th Street in the early hours of April 12. Investigators later named Sampson as a potential suspect. He’s described as a Black male, 6’1″, about 165 pounds, and covered in tattoos, including several on his neck.
Anyone with information about Sampson’s location or the incident is urged to contact the Osage County Sheriff’s Office at 918-287-3131, according to a public advisory posted on Facebook.
Sampson reportedly has family in Tulsa but resides in Arlington, Texas—roughly a four-and-a-half-hour drive away.
Crime at Osage Casino Properties
The Tulsa casino is one of seven gaming venues run by the Osage Nation, several of which have experienced violent incidents in recent years.
In May 2024, a person was shot in the leg in the Tulsa property’s parking lot. Months earlier, in November 2023, a man was fatally shot at the Osage Casino in Bartlesville. Officials later ruled the killing justified after investigators determined the shooter acted to protect a tribal police officer who was being dragged by a fleeing suspect’s truck.
Osage County District Attorney Mike Fisher said the shooter, Brandon Hines of Bartlesville, was within his rights to use deadly force to prevent the officer from being seriously harmed or killed. The officer had approached the suspect, 35-year-old Beau Caskey, regarding a possible credit card theft before the confrontation escalated.
Oklahoma Casinos Thrive on Texas Restrictions
Oklahoma’s tribal casinos—including those operated by the Osage Nation—continue to benefit from Texas’ longstanding ban on commercial and tribal casinos.
In fiscal year 2024, Oklahoma tribal gaming generated nearly $3.5 billion in revenue, with the state collecting over $210 million in exclusivity fees—a 3.9% increase from the previous year.
Although Texas lawmakers frequently revisit the topic of casino legalization, no gaming bills have advanced.
Billionaire Mark Cuban has long advocated for bringing destination casinos to Texas. In 2023, he sold a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks to the family behind the Las Vegas Sands empire, which operates major casino resorts in Singapore and Macau.
Explore the best online betting site Singapore with Octabet betting news. Start winning today! Register now!
