Federal prosecutors announced that Runningbear Pettit, 24, of Bunch, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 21 months for assault with a dangerous weapon and 120 months for using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The court ordered the sentences to run consecutively, meaning the prison terms are added together.

According to the report, on January 30, 2025, Stilwell officers responded to a call about shots fired at a residence. Witnesses said Pettit fired a semi-automatic rifle at the home, bullets entered the building, and one occupant was injured. Law enforcement later arrested him, and he reportedly confessed.

If you are living with violence, threats, stalking, intimidation, or fear of someone using a weapon, this kind of case can feel both validating and frightening. A sentencing like this shows that armed violence is taken seriously by the justice system, but it does not automatically make a person or family feel safe right away.

For survivors, the most important takeaway is this: your fear is real, and you deserve support even if the legal process is still unfolding. A court outcome can be one part of accountability, but safety planning, emotional support, and practical help often matter just as much.

This news may affect:

• The person who was injured in the shooting
• Other people in the home or nearby who witnessed the attack
• Family members, children, neighbors, and friends who may now feel unsafe
• Survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or gun threats who are reminded of their own experiences
• Community members who are trying to understand whether the offender can return home, contact victims, or pose future risk

If you are not directly involved but this story brings up panic, flashbacks, numbness, or trouble sleeping, that reaction is common after hearing about violent events.

• Call 911 or your local emergency number now.
• If you cannot safely speak, try to leave the line open, use text-to-911 if available, or get to a safer place.
• Move toward a room with an exit if possible; avoid kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and rooms with weapons.

• Save evidence: screenshots, voicemails, call logs, photos, and dates/times.
• Do not delete threatening messages, even if they are upsetting.
• Tell a trusted person what is happening and create a code word for emergencies.
• Consider changing routines, locks, passwords, and privacy settings.
• If firearms are involved, tell advocates or law enforcement specifically that a gun was used or threatened.

• You do not have to decide everything at once.
• An advocate can help you think through options like a protective order, police report, victim compensation, shelter, or relocation.
• If you are worried about retaliation, ask about confidential ways to communicate and safe times to call.

This sentencing suggests the federal court found the conduct serious enough to impose prison time for both the assault and the firearm offense. For survivors, that can matter because it may reduce immediate access to the weapon and create a period of separation.

However, a sentence does not guarantee safety by itself. Questions survivors may still need answered include:

• Is there a no-contact order?
• Will the person be on supervised release after prison?
• Are there state or tribal court cases also involved?
• Is the victim eligible for restitution, compensation, or support services?
• Are there children, shared housing, or shared finances that still create risk?

If you do not know the answers, that is okay. An advocate, victim-witness coordinator, or attorney can help you find them.

After a violent event or a news story like this, people often feel:

• Shock or disbelief
• Anger, grief, or guilt
• Trouble concentrating
• Panic, hypervigilance, or jumpiness
• Sleep problems or nightmares
• A strong urge to isolate

These are common trauma responses. You do not need to "tough it out" alone. Small steps can help: drink water, eat something simple, keep lights on, stay near a safe person, and limit exposure to upsetting updates when possible.

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or text START to 88788
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 if you feel overwhelmed, panicked, or unsafe with your thoughts
• RAINN Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
• VictimConnect Resource Center: 1-855-4-VICTIM (1-855-484-2846)
• Local domestic violence shelters, tribal victim services, and county victim advocates may also help with safety planning, transportation, emergency shelter, and court support

If speaking is hard, ask for text, chat, or email options. If English is not your first language, request an interpreter.

• Trust your instincts if something feels off.
• Keep your phone charged and important documents accessible if you may need to leave quickly.
• If children are involved, practice a simple safety plan with them using age-appropriate language.
• If you share a home, ask an advocate about safe ways to leave, retrieve belongings, or arrange a standby police escort.
• If firearms are present, treat the situation as higher risk and tell responders clearly.

This report gives the sentence and the basic facts of the shooting, but it does not answer every question survivors may have. It is not clear from the announcement whether there are additional protective orders, restitution, supervised release conditions, or related state or tribal proceedings.

If you are affected, you can ask the victim-witness office or your advocate for updates about:

• Release dates and supervision conditions
• No-contact restrictions
• Court-ordered restitution
• Notification rights for future hearings or release events
• Whether the offender can return to the area

If this story is touching your own experience, you do not need to prove that what happened was serious enough. Being afraid, injured, controlled, or threatened is enough reason to ask for help. You deserve safety, clarity, and support at your own pace.