Sheriff Albert C. Gaston, Woodward County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma

Sheriff Albert C. Gaston

Woodward County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma

End of Watch Wednesday, February 12, 1986

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Albert C. Gaston

Sheriff Gaston succumbed to a gunshot wound received four years earlier while investigating a possible burglary in a rural part of Woodward County. Sheriff Gaston was responding to the scene at 1400 hours when he observed the suspect's vehicle parked on the shoulder of State Highway 34 south of U.S. Highway 270. As Sheriff Gaston approached the car the passenger exited and opened fire with a .38 caliber revolver, striking Sheriff Gaston in the chest. The sheriff was able to return fire and wound the suspect.

The 23-year-old suspect was taken into custody, convicted of assault with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and sentenced to 144 years in prison. He was released on October 4, 2013.

Sheriff Gaston had been with the agency for 17 years and was survived by his wife.

Bio

Age 70
Tour 17 years
Badge 1

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Incident Date Wednesday, January 6, 1982
Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
Offender Released in 2013

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Most Recent Reflection

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I was only in 3rd grade when Sheriff Gaston was shot. He was a very caring man that would always take time to talk to anyone. I remember that he lived in a small house just across the street from the elementary school in Sharon, OK that I attended. Now that I am setting in his former Office as the Woodward County Sheriff, Creel crosses my daily. I still have pictures of home hanging in the display case. Sheriff Gaston will never be forgotten!

Sheriff Kevin F. Mitchell
Woodward County Sheriff's Office (OK)

February 8, 2018