A celebratory weekend turned into a fatal crime scene after an Oklahoma groom allegedly shot and killed one of his wedding guests during his own bachelor party.
Nolan Engel, 22, faces a second-degree murder charge following the death of 21-year-old Braden Uhlmann at a cabin in rural McCurtain County. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) confirmed the arrest following a Saturday morning shooting that has shocked the local community.
According to the OSBI, deputies from the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suspicious death call shortly before 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 4. Upon arriving at the residence off Rockhill Circle in Broken Bow, authorities discovered Uhlmann suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Emergency responders transported Uhlmann to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The investigation quickly shifted toward Engel, who was hosting his bachelor party at the location. Investigators determined that Engel was the individual who discharged the firearm, leading to his immediate booking into the McCurtain County Jail.
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Court documents and reports from local outlet KXII-TV shed light on the events leading up to the gunfire. Engel reportedly told investigators that the atmosphere turned tense when he and three other guests heard knocking and observed a “shadow” outside the cabin.
Believing an intruder was attempting to enter the premises, Engel fired a 9mm handgun through the door. When he and another guest stepped outside to survey the area, they found Uhlmann lying on the porch.
Arriving officers noted that Engel made “spontaneous statements” at the scene, identifying himself as the shooter.
While the OSBI continues to lead the investigation into the circumstances of the shooting, Engel has secured a temporary release. He posted a $250,000 bond and was released from custody pending his next court appearance.
Under Oklahoma law, second-degree murder applies when a person commits a “perpetrated by an act imminently dangerous to another person and evincing a depraved mind, regardless of human life, although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular individual.”
The McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office has not yet released further details regarding the firearm’s ownership or whether alcohol played a role in the fatal incident.
