SAND SPRINGS, Okla. (AP) - A man killed by a Sand Spring officer over the weekend was “a victim of mental illness” whose actions turned the incident into a deadly confrontation, police said Monday.
Deputy Police Chief Mike Carter said Donald W. Allen, 66, was shot and killed by Officer Brian Barnett when Allen came out of his home with a loaded .22-caliber pistol, pointing the weapon at the officer and cursing him.
“He made this the situation that it was by coming at the officer with that gun,” Carter said. “Mr. Allen is a victim, he’s a victim of mental illness.”
Carter said police have had previous contact with Allen because of threats he had made, and had taken weapons from him in the past only to have Allen’s family member retrieve the weapons.
Phone calls to Allen’s home Monday rang unanswered.
Carter said Barnett was investigating reports of a man shooting a weapon behind his home when he encountered Allen in the backyard of the house. Allen cursed and threatened the officer with a gun as he retreated into his home, Carter said, before Barnett backed away and called for assistance, including the police SWAT team.
A police supervisor telephoned the home and spoke to Allen’s wife, who told police her husband was “off his medications” and could be heard sighing on a recording of the call when she was asked if Allen needed help.
Seconds later four gunshots are heard, which Carter said was Barnett shooting at Allen from close range, striking him three times.
“I’m in the bedroom, is he all right?” Allen’s wife asks on the phone call.
Allen was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Carter.
Carter said there is no indication Barnett, who was placed on paid leave, violated either department policy or state law and called the shooting a tragedy.
“This is not ’another police shooting.’ This is the first police shooting in 17 years in the city of Sand Springs. That is not the culture of a gun-happy police department,” Carter said.
A report on the shooting will be sent to the district attorney’s office, Carter said.
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