JOINING US LIVE TONIGHT WITH THE DETAILS. OLIVIA. UNTIL THE END. THEY SAY BRAD WAS A DEVOTED FRIEND AND FATHER. IT GIVES THEM COMFORT KNOWING HE DIED DOING WHAT HE LOVED. HE WAS THE HEARTBREAK, THE HARDEST WORKING MAN THAT I’VE EVER KNOWN. A SMALL TOWN LEFT IN SHOCK. ONE OF THEIR OWN 45 YEAR-OLD BRAD MCMICHAEL DIED FRIDAY FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED AFTER BEING ATTACKED BY TWO WATER BUFFALO HE HAD PURCHASED THE DAY BEFORE HIS FAMILY, CONFIRMING HIS IDENTITY TO KOCO. IN OUR CONVERSATION SATURDAY, THEY TELL ME IT WASN’T UNUSUAL FOR BRAD TO BE AROUND LIVESTOCK AND EXOTIC ANIMALS HAS DONE ALL KINDS OF THINGS FOR MEAT PROCESSING TO TRADING, CATTLE, RAISING CATTLE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. HE WAS MOST LIKELY GOING TO SELL THEM OR FIND ANOTHER WAY TO UTILIZE THEM. I MEAN, WATER BUFFALO ARE USED FOR MEAT. THEY’RE USED FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS. IN AGRICULTURE. SO. IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT HE SAW AND WENT AND PURCHASED THEM ON THURSDAY. JONES POLICE SAY MCMICHAEL WAS TENDING TO THE WATER BUFFALO WHEN HE WAS ATTACKED. WHY THE LIVESTOCK ATTACKED HIM IS UNKNOWN. BOTH OF THE ANIMALS WERE EUTHANIZED BY POLICE, ONE FOR THE ATTACK, THE OTHER FOR ITS AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR TOWARDS POLICE. LIVESTOCK CAN CAN BE AGGRESSIVE IN ANY MOMENT IF THEY’RE STRESSED WHEN THEY’RE IN AN AUCTION ENVIRONMENT, WHEN THEY’RE TRAVELING, WHEN THEY’RE WITH NEW OWNERS, THE COMMUNITY AND THE AUCTION HOUSE. TAKING TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO EXPRESS THEIR CONDOLENCES AND OFFER SUPPORT. MEANTIME, THE FAMILY IS FIGURING OUT HOW TO LIVE IN A WORLD WITHOUT BRAD, A FATHER, A FARMER AND A JOKESTER. HE JUST HE LOVED TO LAUGH. HE LOVED TO MAKE OTHER PEOPLE LAUGH. THOSE THAT REALLY KNEW HIM KNOW WHAT A HUGE LOSS AND A HUGE VOID THAT IS TO FILL. BRAD’S FAMILY IS GRATEFUL FOR THE KIND MESSAGES THEY HAVE RECEIVED. JONES POLICE TELLING US THE INVESTIGATION IS ACTIVE AND ONGO
Jones man killed by water buffalo remembered as loving father, friend, jokester
Brad McMichael, a 45-year-old from Jones, died after being attacked by two water buffalo he had purchased, leaving his family and the community in shock.
Updated: 10:33 AM CDT Jul 13, 2025
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Brad McMichael, a 45-year-old resident of Jones, died Friday from injuries sustained in an attack by two water buffalo he had purchased the day before, leaving his family and community in shock.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel”He was the hardest working man that I had ever known,” said Amy Smith, McMichael’s ex-wife.McMichael’s family confirmed his identity to KOCO 5 in a conversation on Saturday, noting that it wasn’t unusual for him to be around livestock and exotic animals. His girlfriend, Jennifer Green, shared that he had been involved in various activities related to livestock for many years, including meat processing and cattle trading. “He was most likely going to sell them or find another way to utilize them,” Green said. She explained that water buffalo are used for meat and other agricultural purposes, and McMichael saw an opportunity when he purchased them on Thursday.Police reported that McMichael was tending to the water buffalo when the attack occurred. The reason for the attack remains unknown, but both animals were euthanized by police—one for the attack and the other for its aggressive behavior towards officers.WATCH: Man dead after being attacked by water buffalo near Jones”Livestock can be aggressive in any moment if they’re stressed when they’re in an auction environment, when they’re traveling, when they’re with new owners,” Green said.The community and the auction house have expressed their condolences and support on social media. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Meanwhile, McMichael’s family is trying to adjust to life without him, remembering him as a father, farmer, and jokester. “He loved to laugh, he loved to make other people laugh,” adding, “The who really knew him, what a huge void that is to fill,” Green said.McMichael’s family is grateful for the kind messages they have received. Police have stated that the investigation is ongoing.Top Headlines Jones community mourns man killed by water buffalo Satellite images show before and after Texas floods Army worms invade Oklahoma lawns, causing widespread damage WATCH: Strong storms drop heavy rain, flooding parts of Yukon Oklahoma lawsuit seeks to end tolls on Will Rogers Turnpike
Brad McMichael, a 45-year-old resident of Jones, died Friday from injuries sustained in an attack by two water buffalo he had purchased the day before, leaving his family and community in shock.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
“He was the hardest working man that I had ever known,” said Amy Smith, McMichael’s ex-wife.
McMichael’s family confirmed his identity to KOCO 5 in a conversation on Saturday, noting that it wasn’t unusual for him to be around livestock and exotic animals.
His girlfriend, Jennifer Green, shared that he had been involved in various activities related to livestock for many years, including meat processing and cattle trading.
“He was most likely going to sell them or find another way to utilize them,” Green said. She explained that water buffalo are used for meat and other agricultural purposes, and McMichael saw an opportunity when he purchased them on Thursday.
Police reported that McMichael was tending to the water buffalo when the attack occurred. The reason for the attack remains unknown, but both animals were euthanized by police—one for the attack and the other for its aggressive behavior towards officers.
WATCH: Man dead after being attacked by water buffalo near Jones
“Livestock can be aggressive in any moment if they’re stressed when they’re in an auction environment, when they’re traveling, when they’re with new owners,” Green said.
The community and the auction house have expressed their condolences and support on social media.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Meanwhile, McMichael’s family is trying to adjust to life without him, remembering him as a father, farmer, and jokester.
“He loved to laugh, he loved to make other people laugh,” adding, “The who really knew him, what a huge void that is to fill,” Green said.
McMichael’s family is grateful for the kind messages they have received. Police have stated that the investigation is ongoing.
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