Shooting Suspect Killed By Police

By Lori Fullbright, News On 6

TULSA, OK - Tulsa has had two fatal police shootings in a week.

Members of the Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force shot a man who was wanted for shooting a man in the face and dumping his body in East Tulsa on Sunday.

In a way, it makes sense the Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force and the gangs unit would be involved in these two police shootings, because those squads routinely come up against the worst of the worst criminals in Tulsa.

The incident started Sunday when three men picked up Mahdi Ouni in a suburban to get some marijuana. One of the men shot Ouni twice in the face and they dumped him in a parking lot at the Westminster Apartments and left him to die. Ouni lived and wrote a note to police about what happened.

He told them he knew the driver of the SUV, but not the other two.

Officers found the driver, Jeremy Johnson and also found the suburban.

They say it, "had blood spatter on the rear driver's side door and quarter panel."

Police say Johnson told them, "Magic shot Mahdi two times with a .380 pistol... because he thought that Mahdi shorted him on an ounce delivery of marijuana by eight grams."

After the shooting, Johnson said he and the other two men went home and smoked the pot.

Officers learned "Magic" is Michael Bucknor, a man from Chicago who has been in Tulsa for about a year.

On Monday, the Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force was staking out his apartment at Cobblestone Apartments at 7643 E 51st St. when he and another man walked outside around 2 a.m.

"This suspect was going to be arrested for shooting with intent to kill, no doubt about that and he was aware of officers when they identified themselves as police officers and demanded he drop the gun. He chose not to do so and there are no other options when we're talking about split second actions," said Sgt. Mike Huff with the Tulsa Police Major Crimes Unit.

Bucknor was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say several adults and children were inside the apartment with Bucknor.

The two officers involved are veterans and are now on routine suspension pending the outcome of the criminal and internal affairs investigations and separate shooting review board.

Ouni was a student at Spartan School of Aeronautics and is expected to recover.

Tulsa had two fatal police shootings last year, one in 2006 and one in 2005.

Some officers tell The News On 6 it's a scary time to be a cop, because everybody's got guns and criminals are more violent than ever.

Related story:

10/27/2008  Police Release Shooting Victim's Identity