Man accused of shooting, injuring police officer near Webbers Falls arrested in New Mexico

The man accused of shooting a police officer near Webbers Falls on Sunday has been arrested in Grants, New Mexico, according to the Muskogee County sheriff.

Billy Wayne Williams,46, is alive and recovering in a New Mexico hospital after he was found with what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Suspect Arrested: Billy Wayne Williams Captured in New Mexico

Officers of the Grants Police Department say once they received information about the suspect from Oklahoma Highway Patrol they used their License Plate Reader system to determine that the white Nissan Altima driven by the suspect Williams had been seen at 7:42 AM in the area.

The car was later spotted in a Wal-Mart parking lot with Williams inside. According to Grants PD, as officers attempted to make contact with Williams, a single gunshot was heard, which was determined to be a self-inflicted shot.

Officers worked to attend to Williams before he was transported to a New Mexico hospital.

Grants is about 80 miles west of Albuquerque and a nearly 11-hour drive from Webbers Falls. The FBI will take over the investigation due to the tribal status of Williams.

What Happened In Webbers Falls?

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) reported that a shooting occurred during a traffic stop at around 5:45 p.m. after an officer initially tried to pull over a speeding driver now identified as Billy Wayne Williams.

Williams eventually stopped near East Lynch Street and North Smith Street and at some point during the stop, shots were fired. The officer sustained an injury to the face from the gunfire but has since been treated and released from the hospital.

Insights from Webbers Falls Police Chief:

Webbers Falls Police Chief Mike James says this has been difficult for the small police force.

"We are a small force here, and we are very tight and very much like family. Being the oldest, it feels like this has happened to one of my children," James said.

Previous Story: Webbers Falls Police officer shot, authorities searching for suspect

Multiple agencies, including the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Cherokee Marshals, and the Muskogee County Sheriff's Office were involved in the search.