Crime
Suspect in Shooting Death of Girlfriend Mackenzie Wisdom Released on $30,000 Bond the Same Day
According to the affidavit, Bunch-Stiles immediately told officers that he had accidentally shot his girlfriend.
GUN BARREL CITY, TX – A Gun Barrel City man arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of his girlfriend told authorities the incident was an accident, according to newly released court documents.
John David Bunch-Stiles, 23, was taken into custody Sunday following the shooting death of 22-year-old Mackenzie Wisdom.
An arrest affidavit from Henderson County states that Bunch-Stiles claimed his firearm discharged accidentally while he was transferring it between holsters.
Authorities responded to a shooting call at approximately 4:08 p.m. at a residence in Gun Barrel City.
Upon arrival, officers found Bunch-Stiles outside on the front lawn, waving them down.
According to the affidavit, Bunch-Stiles immediately told officers that he had accidentally shot his girlfriend.
Inside the home, Wisdom was found suffering from a gunshot wound to her upper right shoulder.
First responders administered life-saving measures before transporting her to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 4:46 p.m.
Bunch-Stiles was taken to the Gun Barrel City Police Department, where he provided a statement regarding the events leading up to the shooting.
According to the affidavit, he explained that he had been transferring his firearm from a holster he had been carrying to a soft holster for storage in a nightstand when the gun unexpectedly discharged, striking Wisdom as she lay on the bed.
Bunch-Stiles was booked on a charge of criminally negligent homicide early Monday morning. Jail records indicate he posted bond the same day for $30,000 and was released.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not yet disclosed whether additional charges may be considered.
Crime
Chico Police Fatally Shoot Suspect Michael Oxley Following Weekend Attack on Local Barber George Ramirez III
The Butte County District Attorney’s Office and the Butte County Officer-Involved Shooting Protocol Team are actively investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred early Sunday morning in Chico.
The incident took place at The Post, an off-campus student housing complex on Nord Avenue, where members of the Chico Police SWAT team engaged 43-year-old Michael Oxley, a suspect in a Friday night shooting.
According to District Attorney Mike Ramsey, the situation began Friday evening when Oxley allegedly shot 43-year-old George Ramirez III, a well-known downtown Chico barber, in the parking lot of the Chico Farmer’s Market on Flume Street.
Ramirez was sitting in his vehicle when an assailant approached from behind and fired multiple rounds through the closed driver’s side window, striking him in the head, neck, and shoulder.
He was transported to an out-of-area hospital, where he underwent extensive surgery and remains in critical condition.
Following an overnight investigation, Chico Police identified Oxley as the primary suspect. Authorities determined that he was staying at The Post as an Airbnb resident, not as a student.
A warrant for his arrest was obtained through the District Attorney’s Office and a local judge.
Officers attempted to take Oxley into custody around 6 p.m. on Saturday, but he barricaded himself inside his apartment, prompting a lockdown of the housing complex.
The situation escalated when Oxley fled to the parking structure, where SWAT officers contained him on a ramp between the fourth and fifth floors.
Authorities reported that Oxley was crouching with a pistol equipped with an extended magazine.
Despite two hours of negotiation urging him to surrender, Oxley stood up and opened fire at officers.
In response, six members of the Chico Police SWAT team returned fire, fatally wounding him. The shooting occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 2.
The Butte County Officer-Involved Shooting Protocol Team launched an immediate investigation following the incident.
The six involved officers have been placed on administrative leave, per standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.
Authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the case, including the suspect’s motive and the sequence of events leading up to the fatal encounter.
Additional details will be released as the investigation progresses.