911 Call Describes Chaotic Scene At Tulsa Radio Station

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Tulsa police released the receptionist's call for help today.

The gunman went to KBEZ and demanded to see one of the on-air personalities.

The armed man, Barry Styles, told the receptionist he was the outlaw Josey Wales and wanted to see morning show host Carly Rush.

Rush was gone for the day but the quick thinking receptionist told the armed man she would go find her for him.

That is when she ran to a back room, hid under the desk and called 911.

911 Tape: "Yes I am at KBEZ radio station. I have a man in the lobby with a gun."

Hidden from the gunman, the radio station receptionist makes the frantic call and tells the 911 dispatcher what the gunman had said.

911 Tape: "He said I'm Josey Wells and I demand to see Carly and Steve and he pulled out the gun and said I'm not !*@# kidding."

While the receptionist waits for the police to arrive. She begins to explain the story again but she is interrupted.

911 Tape: "Oh sh**! Guns are firing! Guns are firing!!!!"

911 Tape: "I hear someone screaming. It's okay, you just need to stay where you are at. What if he comes in here?"

What she did not know is that Tulsa Police fired the shots.

Officers said they had no choice and that the gunman, later identified as 58-year-old Barry Styles, refused to cooperate. Officer Jeff Henderson fired three rounds.

911 Tape: "The suspects the one that's been shot. They have him in custody? Yes they have him in custody."

The on-air personality Styles was demanding to see was home taking a nap. She says listening to the 911 tape made it all too real.

"It really put me right there in the moment and I felt the fear that she was going through. Maybe not quite as intensely but it really threw me after I heard it," said Carly Rush, KBEZ.

Rush says this harrowing incident has made them thankful that things did not turn out worse.

"We feel this need to hug each other and go, I really care about you, and I'm really glad you are okay, and that's not something we do every day," Rush said.

911 Tape: "Is he the only one that's been shot? Yes as far as I know, just him. (gasps in relief)"

Styles was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The radio station's operation manager tells The News On 6 there will be changes in security

Related stories:
1/13/2010 Tulsa Police Identify Gunman Shot At KBEZ Radio Station
1/13/2010 K-Hits DJ & Promotions Director Keep Gunman Occupied Until Police Arrive
1/13/2010 KBEZ Employee Says Gunman Reinforces Need For Tulsa Police