John Augustine Tangn O'Kelly

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information CDR Number: 25-459-UF Version Type: AMENDED Report Date: 6/17/2025 3:00 PM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information Agency Name: Tyler Police Dept. Agency Address: 711 West Ferguson Agency City: Tyler Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 75702 Director Information Director Salutation: Chief Director First Name: Jimmy Director Middle Name: E Director Last Name: Toler Reporter Name: Brian Bulman Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Identity of Deceased Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- First Name: John Middle Name: Augustine Tangn Last Name: O'Kelly Suffix: Date of Birth: 9/28/1986 Sex: Male Race: Anglo or White Age At Time Of Death: 38 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 6/5/2025 7:23 PM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 6/5/2025 8:23 PM Manner / Cause of Death Has a medical examiner or coroner conducted an evaluation to determine a cause of death? Medical Examiner/Coroner Yes, results are Evaluation?: available What was the manner of death? (select only one) Homicide (includes Manner of Death: Justifiable Homicide) Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Died as a result of rifle wounds. Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: Not Applicable If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, who caused the death? Law Who caused the death?: enforcement/correctional personnel If a weapon caused the death, what type of weapon caused the death? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Type of weapon that caused Rifle/shotgun death?: Was the cause of death the result of a pre-existing medical condition or did the decedent develop the condition after admission? Not Applicable; cause of death was Pre existing medical accidental injury, condition?: intoxication, suicide or homicide If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, what was the means of death? Means of Death: Firearm Location / Custody Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 3143 Cascades Ct. City: Tyler County: Smith Zip: 75709 What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Location Category: Residence/Home What type of custody/facility was the Decedent in at the time of death: Pre-Custodial Use Type of Custody: of Force Specific type of custody/facility: Specific Type of Custody/Facility: N/A What was the time and date of the deceased's entry into the law enforcement facility where the death occurred (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Entry Date Time: Entry Date Time N/A: Where did the death occur? Death Location: Medical facility General Information Did any other law enforcement agencies respond to calls for service related to this incident? Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Other Agencies Respond?: Yes What were the most serious offense(s) with which the deceased was (or would have been) charged with at the time of death? Offense 1: Residential Burglary Offense 2: Assault Offense 3: Not filed at time of Were the Charges:: death What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Violent Crime Against Persons; Medical / Mental Type of Offense: Health assistance call; Crime Against Property At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent display or use a weapon? Decedent display/use of No weapons: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Yes (select all that Attempt to Injure Others?: apply) Attempted to injure Ways Decedent Attempted To civilian(s) or other Injure Others: inmate(s) At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Appear intoxicated (alcohol or Unknown Make suicidal statements?: Yes drugs): Exhibit any mental health Yes Exhibit any medical problems?: No problems?: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Barricade self or initiate Resist being handcuffed or Yes No standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's Unknown No officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to Yes No including law: escape/flee custody: Attempt gain possession No officer's weapon: Was the deceased under restraint in the time leading up to the death or the events causing the death? Under Restraint: No Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: On June 5, 2025, Tyler Police Officers were dispatched to a residence at 3143 Cascades Ct, Tyler, Texas, in reference to a suspicious person call. Stephanie Gottsch called and reported she was going through divorce proceedings with her husband John O'Kelly, and a current court order was in effect restricting O'Kelly from coming to Gottsch's residence at 3143 Cascades Ct. Gottsch reported O'Kelly came to her residence and assaulted Gottsch's father who confronted O'Kelly outside. Gottsch was not at the residence at the time, but observed via home security cameras, O'Kelly break into the residence. Responding Officers arrived on scene, observed the back door damaged and attempted negotiations with O'Kelly to come outside. Officers learned John O'Kelly had a history of using methamphetamine and alcohol. O'Kelly stated he had been been "kicked out" of a rehabilitation facility earlier in the day. O' Kelly told Officers that he had a gun and O'Kelly threatened to shot officers. While Officers attempted a peaceful resolution with O'Kelly, Gottsch watched O'Kelly inside the house on a live video feed from the security camera system. Gottsch relayed O'Kelly's actions and information to responding officers via dispatch. Gottsch informed the police response that O'Kelly had created a noose, placed it around his head and was in the process of hanging himself. Based on this exigency, Officers made entry through the open back door and ordered O'Kelly to show his hands as officers began up a stairway to contact O'Kelly. While officers ascended up the stairway, O'Kelly emerged at the top of the stairway, and presented an object, later determined to be a black electrical razor. O'Kelly held the black razor in a two hand-grip and thrust forward the remote, presenting it as a firearm. The lead Officer climbing the stairway, believed the item to be a firearm and shot 4 Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- rounds from his patrol rifle, striking O'Kelly at least two times in the chest area. O'Kelly fell and began hanging from the noose he had placed around his neck. Officers quickly cut the noose from O'Kelly's neck and began life saving measures. Emergency Medical Services responded and transported O'Kelly to UT Health hospital in Tyler where O'Kelly later died from his injuries. The Texas Rangers were notified and responded to conduct an investigation into the Officer Involved Shooting. An autopsy was ordered on O'Kelly's body and results showed O'Kelly died as a result of rifle wounds. The manner of death was Homicide. The Texas Rangers presented the case to a Smith County Grand Jury, and the case received a No Bill. Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7