An off-duty Tulsa County Sheriff's deputy shot a man after the suspect allegedly pulled a gun and fired at him during a pedestrian check near East 41st Street and South Sheridan Road on Monday afternoon, according to authorities. The deputy was not hurt, but the man he shot suffered serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital.
According to FOX23, the incident began around 12:37 p.m. when the off-duty deputy, driving on East 41st Street, spotted a man walking on foot and weaving in and out of active traffic. The deputy believed the man might be concealing something under his shirt and pulled over near Buffalo Wild Wings to attempt a pedestrian check, the station reported. Tulsa County Sheriff's Office Communications Director Casey Roebuck told Tulsa World that the deputy had attempted a pedestrian check.
When the deputy tried to speak with the man, the suspect produced a firearm and fired, and the deputy returned fire, striking him, per the station's report. At least a couple of shell casings were recovered from the suspect's gun, and witnesses at Trident Collision Repair told FOX23 they heard what sounded like gunfire outside their shop. The suspect sustained serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, while the deputy was not injured.
Commercial Corridor Locked Down for Hours
The shooting unfolded in a busy commercial stretch near Trident Collision Repair and Buffalo Wild Wings, and the same report notes the corridor sits close to Bishop Kelley High School. The school later confirmed that all students and staff remained safe and secure during the emergency response, per the outlet's account. An emergency all-call tone dispatched first responders from multiple agencies throughout the region, and East 41st Street between South Sheridan Road and Interstate 44 was shut down for the afternoon investigation.
Witness Mark Prestage said he had never seen so many first responders in one spot, while another bystander, Tyler Byrd, described seeing an officer pointing a gun near the scene. No deputies or bystanders were injured in the exchange, and law enforcement worked to secure the area as detectives remained on scene into Monday afternoon, interviewing witnesses and canvassing nearby businesses for security footage.
Deputy Placed on Leave Pending Review
Tulsa County Sheriff's Office policy requires that any deputy involved in a shooting be placed on paid administrative leave. Under Oklahoma Statute Title 21 Section 732, according to Justia Law, an officer is legally justified in using deadly force when the officer reasonably believes it is necessary to protect against serious bodily harm.
As explained by Tulsa Flyer, completed investigative findings in officer-involved shootings are typically forwarded to a district attorney — in this case, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler — to formally determine whether the use of force was justified under state law. That determination will likely hinge on the same physical evidence detectives were gathering at the scene, including recovered shell casings, business security footage, and witness statements.
Part of a Troubling Pattern Along Sheridan Road
The shooting adds to a string of violent incidents along Tulsa's Sheridan Road corridor in recent weeks. Six days earlier, a road-rage shooting near Admiral and Sheridan left a 46-year-old man dead and led to the arrest of a 20-year-old suspect. Tulsa County Sheriff's deputies were also involved in a separate violent robbery investigation on North Rockford Avenue in late August, after a motorist who stopped to help a seemingly stranded SUV was assaulted and thrown onto the roadway.
Statewide, data compiled by Mapping Police Violence and cited by Security.org found that police-involved civilian deaths in Oklahoma surged 55 percent year-over-year in 2025, the highest percentage increase recorded among all U.S. states.
The wounded suspect was identified as Lucien Auguste and remained in critical condition. Whether any body-worn or vehicle camera footage captured the exchange remains unclear. The outcome will ultimately rest with the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office as it reviews whether the deputy's actions met Oklahoma's legal standard for justified force.
