Off-Duty Dept. Of Veterans Affairs Officer Involved In Fatal Tulsa Shooting

An off-duty officer on his way to the Garth Brooks concert with his family shot and killed a man Friday evening, according to Tulsa Police.

Friday, January 16th 2015, 6:36 pm

By: News On 6

Off-Duty Dept. Of Veterans Affairs Officer Involved In Fatal Tulsa Shooting

An off-duty officer on his way to the Garth Brooks concert with his family shot and killed a man who reportedly had attacked a woman on the street Friday evening, Tulsa police said.

Police said the officer stopped to break up a fight on the side of the street, but the attacker pulled a gun and the off-duty officer opened fire.

We've learned Andrew Bryiant is from the Oklahoma City area and is a security officer for the Veterans Affairs department.

Downtown Tulsa was brought to a standstill during rush-hour traffic after shots were fired near 11th and Denver. Joy Smith was across the street and said she saw a fight break out across the street and someone pull a gun.

"It was a loud pop, pop, pop, pop," Smith said. "I just truly went into shock. I thought about hitting the ground and, yeah, I just stood there."

TPD Sgt. Dave Walker said Bryiant got out of his car when he saw a man on top of a woman and punching her.

“He identifies himself, he gets them to separate, and that's when the confrontation occurs," Sgt. Dave Walker said.

He said the attacker, identified as Rodney Walker, and Bryiant both had their guns out. Bryiant opened fire, hitting Rodney Walker several times, TPD said. Paramedics loaded Rodney Walker into the back of an ambulance and took him to a local hospital in critical condition and died later.

Detectives said they found shell casings and interviewed several witnesses at the scene and at police headquarters. Dave Walker said TPD conducted several interviews and Bryiant was released.

"I [saw] the guy fighting, but I didn't think much of it," Smith said. "There's fights here every day, but you don't expect somebody to drive by and pop, pop, pop, pop."