Eyewitnesses Share Details of Fatal Shooting That Prompted Investigation From OSBI

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was called to help investigate a fatal shooting involving Shawnee Police.

Neighbors said they saw it all unfold right outside their front doors.

“Then boom, boom, boom, three rounds, and then there was just silence,” said witness Lonnie Freeman.

Freeman said he heard a commotion and then saw officers giving commands to someone standing near a road.

“They're yelling ‘put your hands up, put your hands up now,’” said Freeman.  

According to police, officers responded to Farrell Street and Minnesota Avenue after callers reported a man pointing a firearm toward vehicles.

“We had several calls, but we had several calls one after another,” said Shawnee Police Corporal Vivian Lozano.

Lonnie Freeman said a loud noise drew him onto his front porch. He saw three officers taking cover behind their SUVS.

“I noticed they were pulling their guns, so I’m watching like what’s going on,” said Freeman.

He said after officers' commands were ignored by the suspect, police said he pointed a gun at them and that's when they shot him.

“I then heard three rounds go off simultaneously, boom, boom boom,” said Freeman.

“All I could think is he was someone's family, right away said a prayer for him,” said resident Kate Butler.

“I heard it was a young Indian person that had mental problems,” said resident Larry Butler.

Kate and Larry Butler live nearby and said they sympathized with the young man. They said they had a loved one who suffered from mental illness who was killed during an officer involved shooting,

“My family knows how hard it is to lose someone like that,” said Butler.

According to residents the young man lived in the neighborhood and had been acting strangely.

“He was beating on someone’s car across the road and took a BB gun,” said Freeman.

Investigators have not said whether or not the suspect was armed with a lethal gun.

“Once you raise a weapon, they don’t hesitate, they are protecting the public,” said Freeman.

OSBI is expected to release more information Thursday.