An Oklahoma man is facing manslaughter charges after allegedly shooting his wife during a drunken argument sparked by a phone call from her former boyfriend. Authorities say the confrontation turned deadly inside the couple’s Ford F-350 truck on May 26, 2024, in Garvin County.
Kyle Shackelford, 32, was arrested after his wife, 25-year-old Rylee Shackelford, was found fatally wounded in the passenger seat of his pickup. According to an affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, Kyle admitted to firing the .22 caliber pistol but claimed the shooting was an accident.
Police reports state that the couple had spent the evening at a casino, where Kyle consumed at least seven or eight beers along with several whiskey and rum cocktails. Surveillance footage also showed him purchasing pre-mixed alcohol beverages before heading home. Investigators said he exhibited clear signs of intoxication, including slurred speech and red, watery eyes.
The trouble began after Rylee received a call from her former boyfriend, now described as just a friend. When Kyle answered the call, he allegedly grew angry, demanding to know the caller’s identity. The man later told police that he heard Rylee in the background pleading for her phone back. Shortly afterward, he received a Snapchat message from Rylee reading: “Please stop before I get my a— beat, I’m begging you.”
According to police, the couple began fighting at their home before moving the argument into Kyle’s truck. Kyle told investigators that while they were “bickering” inside the vehicle, Rylee struck the console where he had placed his pistol. He claimed he tried to swipe the gun away when it discharged, striking Rylee in the abdomen.
Rylee’s injuries were catastrophic. A medical examiner later determined the bullet entered her chest, fractured a rib, and passed through her heart before lodging in her chest wall. She was found unconscious, pale, and not breathing when police arrived at a Pauls Valley Walmart, where Kyle had driven her father to meet paramedics. Despite efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kyle Shackelford was taken into custody on August 26 and booked into the Garvin County Jail. The weapon police recovered contained one spent cartridge in the chamber and three live rounds in the magazine. Prosecutors charged Kyle with manslaughter, arguing that his reckless behavior and intoxication directly led to his wife’s death.
He has since posted a $100,000 bond and was released pending trial. Shackelford is scheduled to appear in court again on September 12.
The case has drawn local attention both for the shocking details of the shooting and for the warning signs of domestic turmoil that emerged in the hours before Rylee’s death. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of upgraded charges as the investigation continues.
