Tulsa Police Officer Shoots, Kills Domestic Violence Suspect

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Two Tulsa police officers are on paid administrative leave after one of them shot and killed a domestic violence suspect.

The shooting happened at about 9:20 Friday night in the 1000 block of North Florence Place, while officers responded to a call of a domestic disturbance.

Once inside, the officers determined a 26-year-old man had been fighting with his 39-year-old girlfriend. 

One of the officers tried to arrest the man, but investigators say the man fought back and tried to get away.

"They were physically fighting. The officer's uniform had scuff marks from where they were on the floor, on the elbow, the knees, a part of his badge and his flag had ripped off or torn or coming down," said Capt. Karen Tipler, Tulsa Police Department.

Capt. Tipler says during the fight, the man got the officer's gun out of his holster and the officer yelled to his partner for help. 

Cliff Brooks lives nearby and was watching television at the time when he heard what happened next.

"We heard six shots, just pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow. Just pow, pow, just emptied the gun," said Brooks.

Police say the man was hit twice. EMSA pronounced the man dead at the scene. His name hasn't been released as investigators contact his next of kin.

The names of the two officers also have not been released and they're scheduled to give their first official interviews with detectives on Sunday. TPD says both officers are veterans, with one having more than 20 years experience and the other having more than 17 years experience.

A spokeswoman says the fight and shooting happened very fast, and in cases like this, officers are trained to do what's necessary to protect lives.

"If the suspect gets the gun, the option is do you let the suspect shoot you or another officer or his wife," said Capt. Tipler.