A 65-year-old Edmond man, Ross Norwood, is hospitalized after being shot by police amid a house fire he is believed to have started, leading to a chaotic scene that rattled his neighborhood. According to KOCO, the incident unfolded when Norwood reportedly lit his porch carpet on fire and, as firefighters tackled the blaze for hours, a neighbor described to law enforcement that Norwood was seen brandishing a knife in an erratic manner.
Neighbors were left on edge by the confluence of fire and violence, with one resident anonymously recounting to KFOR how the fire sent flames into the sky and thick smoke filled the atmosphere, furthermore Deputy Fire Chief Chris Denton attested to finding flames on both floors upon his crew's arrival; meanwhile, the police were informed of Norwood's aggressive behavior with a knife.
The community's distress is deepened by reports from neighbors, gathered by News 9, claiming Norwood has a history of mental illness and his unpredictable behavior has left many feeling insecure—exemplified by a neighbor's effort to save others from the fire, risking personal safety to alert residents with children, despite the peril, the house was already ablaze and danger was imminent.
