Anthoney Bryant Dies After Laramie County Sheriff Shooting on I-80

Anthoney Bryant, a 27-year-old man, died Wednesday afternoon following a shooting involving Laramie County sheriff’s deputies on Interstate 80.

The incident occurred around 1:42 p.m. near mile marker 377, close to the Hillsdale exit, roughly 15 miles east of Cheyenne. While authorities confirmed Bryant was pronounced dead at the scene, the specific circumstances surrounding the encounter remain unknown.

“He was a troubled human and was in and out of jail and had some deep personal issues,” Jacey Nichelle Lee told Cowboy State Daily.

Lee, whose nephew is Bryant’s son, described the suddenness of the news, noting she learned of his death through her mother. She expressed concern regarding the potential public release of video footage of the event.

The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating

The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has taken the lead on the case. An officer-involved shooting investigative team was deployed to gather facts, though officials have not yet disclosed whether deputies were conducting a traffic stop, responding to a specific call, or engaged in a pursuit.

“Our officer-involved shooting investigative team was sent to conduct the investigation and gather the facts surrounding the incident, which includes many of the questions you have asked,” Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Director Ronnie Jones told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday.

Jones said that the DCI will not comment on the open investigation. Once the team completes its work, the findings will be forwarded to the Laramie County District Attorney’s Office for formal review.

The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office is also conducting a separate internal review. This process will determine if the deputies involved adhered to established department policies, training standards, and procedures.

To build the case, investigators plan to interview witnesses and deputies while reviewing all available evidence, including patrol car and body camera footage. The sheriff’s office said that withholding certain details at this stage is necessary to avoid interfering with the ongoing probe.

Chaos on Interstate 80

The shooting triggered a massive law enforcement response on the interstate. According to the Cheyenne Police Department, the scene required significant traffic control to manage the flow of vehicles.

Anthoney Bryant Dies After Laramie County Sheriff Shooting on I-80

Photographs from the scene showed police using orange cones to funnel semi-trucks and other motorists into a single lane. Radio traffic captured shortly after the shooting included urgent requests for assistance with traffic management and emergency medical responders.

At one point during the emergency response, a responder was instructed to have an automated external defibrillator, or AED, ready for the scene. The sheriff’s office has stated there is no ongoing threat to the public.

“I dropped everything I was doing and I just felt very tight and sick to my stomach,” Lee told Cowboy State Daily.

“No one needs to see it,” Lee said regarding the potential public release of the shooting video, adding her worry that people might judge Bryant without considering his family.