A critical incident which occurred in October of 2019, shows the moment officers from the Tulsa Police Department were forced to use lethal force against a warranted male subject who drew a firearm, threatening responding officers lives.

Prior to the shooting, Tulsa officers arrived in the area of 3800 East Pine road, to assist a motorist with a broken down vehicle. As the officers approached the vehicle, which had its 4-way hazards on, the female operator stated her ex-boyfriend was on his way to assist her broken down vehicle. While speaking to the female subject, one officer noticed drug paraphernalia in plain sight. She had stated to the police officers the paraphernalia was her ex-boyfriends, and that he was headed back to the area soon. Not only did she put full blame on her ex-boyfriend, but she also threw him under the bus by informing the officers, he had an active warrant out for his arrest.

Meanwhile, responding officers began searching the vehicle, while also contacting dispatch to request additional officers on the scene. A short while later, the boyfriend arrived on the scene, operating a bicycle while carrying a four-sided lug wrench. After receiving detailed information from the female driver, the officers asked the man to drop the tool and to step off from his bicycle upon his arrival. Seconds after the male suspect dropped his bicycle, he began reaching for his right side waist band, where he then retrieved a loaded firearm.

Officers immediately stated "Don't reach, don't reach", however the male suspect refused to follow these commands. Three of the four responding officers began discharging their service weapons, fatally wounding the male suspect. The suspect was provided life saving measures, but was pronounced deceased on his way to the hospital.