UPDATE: Tulsa Police Officers Critical After Shooting

Police: Both Officers In Critical Condition Following Shooting

Monday, June 29th 2020, 5:14 pm

By: Jonathan Cooper

TULSA, Okla. -

Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin is asking for prayers for Sgt. Craig Johnson and Officer Aurash Zarkeshan. Both officers that were shot during a traffic stop Monday morning are in critical condition.

"We need this community to come together," said Chief Franklin.

Chief Franklin said Sgt. Johnson is the overnight supervisor for the Mingo Valley Division, and a 15 year veteran of the department. He was promoted to the rank of Sgt. 5 years ago and has two young boys.

We've interviewed Sgt. Johnson many times in recent years as he was a driving force in changing laws to cut down on copper theft.

Mayor GT Bynum said he worked closely with Sgt. Johnson on a city ordinance addressing it a few years ago.

"Most people that are driving on our streets today probably never heard Sgt. Johnson's name before today,” said Bynum. “And you have people like that, hundreds of them in the Tulsa Police Department that work every day to make this city better and never ask for public recognition or gratitude."

Chief Franklin said Officer Aurash Zarkeshan has been with the department for only a year, joining the academy in 2019 and graduating in May.

He said he's been on his own in the streets for less than 6 weeks.

Zarkeshan previously worked at a bank in Edmond and staff there tell News on 6, being a police officer was one of his goals.

Armin Zarkeshan, Aurash's brother, made a statement on FaceBook about the event:

I’m trying to find the words for this post before the media releases names shortly...

Early last night my brother & his supervising officer were shot multiple times while on duty making a traffic stop in Tulsa. All I can ask for is prayers for my brother & his supervisor. He is out of surgery and stable but he is not out of the woods yet. I have never experienced these emotions before, but please just keep him in your prayers. Thank you to Tulsa PD for treating us like family & for everyone who has reached out. I love you bro.