DA: Wagoner County Deputies Justified In Use Of Deadly Force

Two Wagoner County deputies are back at work after the district attorney ruled their use of deadly force was justified.

On August 18th, investigators said Gary Clark assaulted his own brother with a knife. When the deputies arrived the man was on his porch, holding a butcher's knife.

8/18/2014 Related Story: Deputies, Officers Involved In Wagoner County Shooting

Broken Arrow police were called for backup.

Reports said Deputy Jason Hathcoat and Deputy Robbie Lively and a BAPD officer started shooting when the man came at them with the knife. Clark was shot several time but survived.

“They tried less than lethal first. They used pepper balls. He kept charging. They tried Taser, he kept charging. That's when shots were fired,” said Wagoner County Sheriff Bob Colbert.

District Attorney Brian Kuester, stated that based on the circumstances presented, both Hathcoat and Lively were justified in using deadly force and are now back at work.