Tulsa Native Killed In Vegas Courthouse Shooting

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

TURLEY, OK -- A former Tulsa Police officer was the victim in Monday's deadly shooting at the Lloyd George Federal Building in Las Vegas.

Family members tell The News On 6, 72-year-old Stanley Cooper died Monday afternoon after suspect Johnny Lee Wicks opened fired in the court house.

Cooper was a security guard who had retired as a sergeant from the Las Vegas Police Department and had served as a Tulsa police officer.

Marshals say the 66-year-old Wicks was upset over losing a lawsuit in which he had claimed he was denied Social Security benefits because of his race.

Witnesses counted at least 50 shots and say once the chaos died down, Johnny Lee Wicks had been shot to death.

Authorities are now investigating the cause of a fire at the apartment building where Wicks lived, which happened before the shootings.

Stan Cooper was the youngest of three brothers who grew up in Turley, north of Tulsa. 

After graduating from Tulsa's Central High, he became a Tulsa police officer, class of 1960. Four years later, he moved to the Las Vegas police department, retiring as a sergeant after 26 years on the force. 

Retirement bored him so he joined a private firm, AKAL Security, in 1994 and served 16 years. His assignment was the Lloyd George Federal Building.

"I thought he was pretty safe in the courthouse. Years before, when he was in the police department, I really worried about him, but didn't worry about him in the courthouse. That's why it's such a big surprise," said Bob Cooper, Stan's brother.

Bob still lives in Turley and spends much of his time in a converted computer room where he runs web sites and monitors news. He has been reading non-stop about the shooting that took his baby brother's life.

"The guy just got into the front door and started shooting. He got shot in the chest. I don't know at what point, he might've been the first one shot," said Bob Cooper.

Bob says his brother had a head for business and a heart of gold, who loved his horses and rode nearly every day and who cherished time with his grandchildren. 

It's hard for Bob to understand why a man angry over a disability case could open fire on innocent people who had nothing to do with the court decision. 

Marshals killed the suspect, Johnny Wicks. 

As Stan's body was transported, his former brothers in blue, showed their respect.

"There was quite a few police cars that escorted him to the place. When they brought him out and put him in the hearse, they all saluted," said Bob Cooper.

Stan Cooper had six children.

1/4/2010  Related Story: Oklahoma Native Helps Take Down Gunman in Vegas Courthouse Shooting