Robert Charles Bryant arrest photo, Archer County Jail
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — A man who pointed a rifle at a Wichita Falls gas station attendant on the afternoon of Monday, June 3, 2024, was later found and arrested in Archer City, according to police.
The suspect, Robert Charles Bryant, 72, of Graham, was charged in Archer County with unlawful possession of a firearm and driving while intoxicated. As of publication, he had not yet been charged in Wichita County.
Wichita Falls Police responded to a report of a homicide at the Murphy USA gas station on Archer City Highway on Monday around 4 p.m.
The suspect is described as an older white man wearing a Trump hat and driving a 2000 model Lincoln SUV. According to store employees, they were outside the store talking and assisting customers with a broken fuel pump, when the man in the SUV began yelling at the employees to hurry up while they were fixing the pump.
The store clerk said that as the argument continued, the man pulled out a rifle with a scope and pointed it at the clerk. Police said no shots were fired and the SUV left the scene and is still missing.
At approximately 6:00 p.m., an Archer City police officer reported spotting the suspect vehicle. An Archer County deputy responded to the scene, found the vehicle on Center Street, and pursued it until other officers arrived.
Officers said the SUV drove into Oodles Market and ordered Bryant out of the vehicle, but Bryant continued to ask what he did wrong and tried to put his hands down, prompting officers to draw their weapons and order him to put his hands up, the report said.
He asked Bryant what happened in Wichita Falls, but Bryant said he didn’t know.
The deputy saw an open beer bottle in the cup holder and asked Bryant how much he had drunk, to which he responded that he had had three or four beers.
When officers received a report of a man pointing a gun at a gas station attendant, Bryant said it was a “black guy” who confronted him, not the attendant, and that he was scared and that the rifle was unloaded.
Officers found two unloaded rifles in the car, as well as a six-pack of still-chilled beer.
A horizontal gaze test was administered and Bryant displayed 6 out of 6 indicators of intoxication and agreed to submit a blood sample, the deputy said.
Wichita Falls police had not filed any charges as of press time, but a spokesperson said police were in discussions with Archer County authorities.
This is an evolving story, so please check the Texoma homepage for updates as more information becomes available. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
