A suspect is in critical condition after Warr Acres police opened fire early Monday morning, following a brief chase that ended when the driver crashed into a power pole. The driver then ran into a stranger's backyard and pulled out a gun, according to authorities. No officers were hurt, and investigators say no one else was injured in the incident.
According to KOKH, Warr Acres police officers attempted to stop a speeding vehicle in the 6000 block of North MacArthur Boulevard. The driver refused to stop and led officers on a short chase, KOKH reported. A separate account from News9 places the initial stop attempt near Northwest 63rd Street and MacArthur, just after midnight.
The chase ended near Northwest 58th Street and Mueller Avenue, where the suspect crashed into a power pole, per OSBI officials cited by KOKH. News9's reporting describes the same crash location in a neighborhood near Northwest 58th Street and Mueller Avenue, while KOCO identified the vehicle involved as a white SUV that struck a power pole in the area near Northwest 58th Terrace and Mueller Avenue, close to Rockwell Avenue and Northwest 63rd Street.
Suspect Pulled Gun in Stranger's Backyard
After the crash, the suspect ran into a home's backyard to avoid officers, authorities said. When officers tried to arrest the suspect, the person pulled out a weapon, according to the same account. That is when officers shot the suspect, who was then taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
KOCO reported that the suspect brandished a firearm, leading to the officer-involved shooting.
Investigators told News9 that people were inside the home at the time but did not know the suspect, and that the suspect did not live in the area. It remains unclear why the suspect chose that particular backyard during the chase.
OSBI Takes Over Investigation
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the officer-involved shooting, as is standard practice for incidents involving law enforcement use of force in the state. OSBI agents have taken over the investigation, according to the same report from KOCO.
No officers were injured during the incident, and no one else was hurt, per the reporting. Further details about the suspect's condition, identity, or any potential charges had not been released as of Monday.
