Video Released From Shooting That Led To Misdemeanor Charge For Tulsa Police Officer

Tulsa Police Officer Aaron Russell was indicted for a misdemeanor after shooting a man in the shoulder in March. On Friday, Russell’s attorney released the body cam footage from the incident.

Aaron Russell's misdemeanor indictment came from a multi-county grand jury last week.

Related Story: Tulsa Police Officer Indicted, Released From Jail For Shooting From March

Officer Aaron Russell shot a man in the shoulder in March after seeing that he had a gun. Police said it was later determined to be an air gun, not a pistol.

Russell's attorney said from the time Officer Russell saw the gun in the man's console until the shooting was over, it was only 12 seconds.

The initial call was about a man sleeping behind the wheel of a vehicle that was parked in the middle of the road with its lights on.

Body camera video sent to us from Officer Aaron Russell's attorney shows the moments leading up to Russell firing his gun.

Tulsa Police said those who called 911 said Michael Delaney had been sitting in the car in the neighborhood for several hours without moving.

As officers asked Delaney for his name and ID, Officer Russell noticed a pistol just behind the center console. TPD said Delaney was hit in his left shoulder as he drove away.

Defense Attorney Scott Wood said Officer Russell believed his partner was in the path of the moving car.

"And as soon, and it's really quick, in less than one and a half seconds, he realizes that is not what's happening, and he stops shooting," Wood said.

Wood said it was a mistake, but was a reasonable mistake based on all the circumstances during the interaction. The grand jury's indictment is for misdemeanor reckless handling of a firearm.

The suspect was convicted of obstruction and given a year in jail. Police said he admitted taking off because he knew he had warrant and didn't want to go back to jail.

Russell is also a Lieutenant in the Army Reserves and has been on the department for a year. He was a detention officer at the jail for five years before that.

He remains on administrative leave. His attorney said they're confident a jury will find Officer Russell's actions were reasonable.