'It's crazy': OKC residents react after officer shot, suspect killed in standoff
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Some northwest Oklahoma City residents were evacuated from their homes after an officer was shot Tuesday morning.
The Oklahoma City Police Department said officers responded just after 9 a.m. to a neighborhood near NW 36th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue after getting a call that a suspect was holding a gun to someone’s head.
“When officers arrived there at the scene, they were met with gunfire from that residence,” said OKCPD Captain Valerie Littlejohn.
Littlejohn said one officer was shot and taken to the hospital. Littlejohn said a couple of officers also shot back at the suspect.
The suspect has not been identified, but police say he barricaded himself inside of a home with two women and three children inside, refusing to come out.
“I just keep hearing so many different things,” said Megan, a neighbor. “It’s crazy.”
Littlejohn said some homes were evacuated as a safety precaution, and entire blocks were blocked off, forcing some neighbors to shelter in place.
“They evacuated several homes there around that house just for safety reasons,” said Littlejohn. “If one of the suspect's rounds went into another home, we didn't want any innocent bystanders in those homes. So we tried to evacuate those as quickly as possible, as safely as possible, get them to a safe area.“
Some neighbors told News 4 they felt anxious, calling the event unusual for the neighborhood.
"I have never seen firefighters with bulletproof vests on,” said another neighbor, who asked News 4 not to use their name.
Police say negotiators tried to talk the suspect out of the house, but the suspect continued to shoot at officers. Police say an officer shot the suspect, who was found dead inside the house.
The two women and three children were checked out by medical crews, but police did not reference any injuries as being serious.
Police say the officer that was shot underwent surgery on Tuesday and is expected to survive.
“Everyone out there, please say a prayer for these people,” said Megan. “It’s such a sad situation.”
Police say the officers who fired their weapons are on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.