Residents Of SE OKC Neighborhood React To Deadly Officer Involved Shooting Of Suicidal Man

Three Oklahoma City officers were placed on routine administrative leave on Friday after shooting and killing a suicidal man. Police said the man was walking up and down a street in a metro neighborhood with a gun. Police officials said officers tried to de-escalate the situation by talking to the man for about an hour. Officers fired at the man when he allegedly pointed a gun at them.

Residents of the southeast Oklahoma City neighborhood said police and crime tape was an unusual sight for them.

“This is a very quiet neighborhood,” said Kameron Friend, neighbor.

The quiet was disrupted around 4 a.m. on Friday when gunshots rang out.

“We heard the shots like six or eight of them,” said Sharen Stanley, witness. “Just bap, bap, bap, bap right after another.”

Sharen Stanley knew the man killed by three Oklahoma City officers. He lived across the street with several other people.

“He wasn’t a bad man,” said Stanley. “He was ill.”

Police said the man was suicidal and did not respond to talking or less lethal force.

“During this time there was two occasions where officers deployed less lethal 40-millimeter impact rounds,” said Capt. Valerie Littlejohn, Oklahoma City Police Department. “The subject did point his gun at officers, and we had three officers discharge their firearm.”

Stanley said before police were called, the suicidal man was knocking on doors for help.

“My neighbor, he was at her house around 11 p.m. asking for help and she feels like this is her fault because she should have helped him,” said Stanley. “She’s crying, this is just very upsetting for all of us.”

The close-knit neighborhood is now grieving the loss.

“It’s a very sad situation and my prayers go out to the family,” said Friend. “Send support for the family because I know it can be a very tough time.”

Police did not release the man's name, but the department is expected to release more information about the investigation next week.