Barricaded, armed man commits suicide in Tulsa, motorist shot

By John Dobberstein, Editor

A suspect took his own life late Friday after barricading himself in a Tulsa hotel room and firing shots at responding officers, the Tulsa Police Department said.

The whole incident began shortly after 6 p.m. when a couple was driving down 11th Street East and an occupant was struck in the head by a bullet.

Police found the victim, who was taken to a Tulsa hospital in stable condition.

Tulsa police determined the round came from a room in the Desert Hills Motel in the about 5100 block E. 11th Street. Officers set up a perimeter around the motel, blocked traffic and cleared the area of civilians.

After several unsuccessful attempts by police to contact the suspect inside the room, he fired multiple rounds from within the room. Police said they weren’t sure if the first rounds were directed towards officers or random.

The suspect then used a semi-automatic rifle and fired numerous additional rounds, and police said his time it was clear he was firing at officers.

The TPD Special Operations Team was called in for assistance. As police used their tactical vehicle for protection and moved up toward the hotel, a woman emerged from the room and was quickly taken into custody.

As this was happening, the suspect fired one last shot and ended his life. The woman was transported to the TPD Detective Division to be interviewed.

The department’s Crime Scene Unit processed evidence and the investigation was continuing. The identity of the suspect and woman was not shared by police.

“It excellent work by all the officers involved in this incident, and a big thanks to the citizens for their patience during this prolonged disruption,” TPD said in a Facebook post

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