PAULS VALLEY, OK – A Garvin County man is facing manslaughter charges after authorities say a drunken confrontation spiraled into deadly violence inside a pickup truck, leaving his wife dead and a family devastated.
According to court records, 32-year-old Kyle Shackelford was arrested for the shooting death of his 25-year-old wife, Rylee Shackelford, following a night out on May 26. Police reports indicate the incident began after the couple returned home from a local casino, where witnesses said Kyle had been drinking heavily throughout the evening.
The situation reportedly escalated when Kyle answered a video call to Rylee’s phone and found her former boyfriend on the line. Police say the call ignited an argument that continued inside the Shackelfords’ home, eventually spilling into their Ford F-350 parked outside.
Investigators allege that while inside the truck, the conflict turned physical before a single gunshot was fired. According to the arrest affidavit, Kyle later told authorities he had been arguing with Rylee over the phone call when, in a moment of frustration, he attempted to move a pistol resting on the console and the weapon discharged, striking Rylee in the abdomen.
Authorities responded to a call for medical assistance just before 3 a.m. at a Walmart parking lot on West Grant Avenue in Pauls Valley. Officers found Rylee Shackelford unresponsive in the passenger seat, with her father also present at the scene. She was pronounced dead despite efforts to save her.
An autopsy report showed the bullet entered her chest, causing critical injuries to her heart. There was no evidence of defensive wounds to her left arm, potentially indicating she was unable to defend herself during the shooting.
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators detailed Kyle’s activities earlier in the night, showing him consuming multiple alcoholic drinks at the casino and purchasing additional alcohol at a local store before the shooting occurred. Officers noted signs of intoxication when they encountered Kyle at the Walmart, describing him as having red, watery eyes and slurred speech.
During police interviews, Kyle Shackelford allegedly admitted to drinking but maintained that the shooting was unintentional and happened during a heated argument. He told detectives Rylee was in the passenger seat when she began hitting the console where the pistol was placed, and he attempted to move the firearm out of reach when it went off. He then went inside to enlist Rylee’s father to help transport her to seek medical attention.
Police recovered the handgun used in the incident, which still contained three live rounds and one spent cartridge. Charges were filed following the police investigation and review of autopsy findings.
Kyle Shackelford was booked into the Garvin County Jail in August and released after posting a $100,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 12 as the legal process continues.