Deputies: Distraught Man Sets House On Fire In Rogers County

Rogers County Sheriff's Office confirms a distraught man set his house on fire Sunday morning near Owasso.

Coy Jenkins, Public Information Officers for RCSO, said the man is in custody. 

The home is in a rural area north and east of Owasso off Highway 20 and 4080 Road. Neighbors say the smoke and flames were visible from quite a distance.

Limestone Fire Department responded to the structure fire, but they had to pull back because the man had a gun.

"It was terrifying," said nearby resident Kaeley Bacher. "I went to sleep about 6:30 or so this morning and was woken up about 7:10 by my mom in a panic telling me there was an active shooter in the neighborhood."

Early reports indicated the man fired the gun, but Sheriff Scott Walton said it's now believed ammunition was going off in the house because of the fire.

"He was emotionally distraught," Jenkins said of the man. "He had a gun and didn't know what he was doing."

Deputies got to the scene and contained the situation until they could talk to the man, Jenkins said. The man, who was reportedly suicidal, tried at first to hide from law enforcement, authorities say.

"Eventually, he put the gun down and gave up," Jenkins said.

The man's family is OK, and he's being treated at the hospital. Jenkins said he will receive a mental health evaluation and will be arrested later on a complaint of first-degree arson.