In a harrowing turn of events yesterday morning, a stalking situation escalated to violence, ending with the suspect shooting himself, as reported by the Tulsa Police Department in a social media post. Officers responded to a shooting at a check-cashing business on North Lewis Avenue in Tulsa where they encountered a chaotic scene involving Keonta Walker, a stalking suspect who had followed his victim from a nearby store. Employees at the check-cashing store had to intervene, securing the victim in a back room and instructing Walker to leave the premises.
According to the Tulsa Police Department's account, the victim was pursued by Walker from an establishment called The Freeze to the financial service location; there, when the victim warned the clerks that Walker, who followed in his white Dodge Charger, was not with her and his presence was unwarranted, a physical confrontation ensued. Walker, in a hasty attempt to interact with the victim, dived into her car, causing a struggle during which his gun discharged and shot himself in the head, resulting a critical injury that led to his hospitalization, and pending multiple charges once he is released.
The woman involved managed to flee the immediate danger and was quickly safeguarded by store employees, while Walker, despite his self-inflicted injury, followed her before being approached and apprehended by arriving officers. The Tulsa Police Department indicated that along with Walker's gun, several of his teeth were found in the victim's vehicle, an indication of the struggle's severity.
This incident takes place at the back of Walker's recent release from prison, marking over four years served prior to the current instance of stalking—the victim had started the process for a protective order, however, it had not been served at the time of the altercation, Tulsa Police plan to serve it while he is in hospital care.
