Tulsa Man Shot, Killed Protecting Neighbor's Home

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Tulsa Police say a man was shot and killed with his own gun when he confronted a burglar outside his neighbor's town home Monday morning.

It happened at a midtown townhouse complex near 46th and Granite.

Police say the victim, 53-year-old Mark Miller, called his neighbor, who was not at home, after hearing her alarm go off before 11 a.m. He then grabbed his gun and confronted the suspect at a nearby parking lot.

According to police, the suspect managed to grab Miller's gun during a scuffle and shot him. The 53-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

"These two guys were on the back road. The guy with the gun was trying to back the guy up. Trying to get him out," Jasmine, a witness, said. "Next thing I know they run in. And then I hear gunshots. Then the little guy runs out drops the gun and then runs behind the fence."

The suspect, identified as 41-year-old Joe Edward Nevels, was apprehended by police officers at a nearby Best Buy parking lot.

Police say he resisted arrest so officers tased him. He was taken to a Tulsa hospital with lacerations to his neck.

Nevells will be booked into the Tulsa County Jail upon release from the hospital.

Neighbors are still dealing with the shocking death of a neighbor, who only had good intentions.

"We all moved here because it's such a quiet neighborhood and everything. And everybody watches out for everybody," Linda, a resident, said.