Suspect Wielding Baseball Bat Fatally Shot by Officers in Wyoming

A 41-year-old man in Thermopolis, Wyoming, was fatally shot during an altercation with law enforcement on the evening of September 9, 2024. The incident resulted in a Thermopolis police officer and a Hot Springs County sheriff’s deputy being placed on paid leave while an investigation is conducted.

The confrontation began when a neighbor reported that Jared Gottula, who lived near Clark and Third streets, was aggressively thrashing his home and surroundings with a baseball bat while yelling and screaming. Concerned for his well-being, the neighbor called for a police welfare check.

At approximately 5:25 p.m., a Thermopolis Police Department officer arrived at the scene and was immediately confronted by Gottula, who was wielding a metal baseball bat. According to an official statement released by the town of Thermopolis and the Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office, Gottula struck the officer’s patrol car with the bat and attempted to enter the vehicle multiple times. A witness stated that he managed to get the door open twice during the struggle. The witness also reported that the officer struck Gottula with the patrol car at some point during the encounter.

A sheriff’s deputy soon arrived as backup, and the struggle escalated. A neighbor recalled hearing grunting sounds, suggesting a physical altercation. At some point during the confrontation, lethal force was used, and Gottula was pronounced dead at the scene.

Neighbors reported hearing between six and twelve gunshots, though the official statement did not confirm the number of shots fired or which officers discharged their weapons. Neither the officer nor the deputy sustained injuries in the altercation.