Tulsa Police Officers Save Lives
TULSA, Ok – On January 13 at 1:15 PM, Tulsa Police Officers responded to a high rise business building at 7030 S. Yale Ave in reference to a man with a gun. The caller stated that the suspect entered the building and exited on the 7th floor.
He then entered an area which houses two local radio stations and asked to speak with a specific DJ. The receptionist spoke with the suspect for a couple of minutes, then the suspect pulled out a handgun. At this point, the receptionist ran from the front counter to hide in an office, seek safety and to call 911.
Officers arrived within minutes and began to make their way into the building while the 911 caller continued to give suspect information. As some officers secured lower floors, other officers made their way directly to the seventh floor in order to stop any violence.
Upon arriving on the seventh floor, the officers entered the lobby area and began to make their way down the hallway to where the suspect was standing and waving and pointing his firearm while making threats. During this time, the suspect pointed his weapon at numerous employees.
It became apparent that the suspect was attempting to take hostages and the situation was rapidly deteriorating and would inevitably cost innocent civilians lives if they did not intervene. As the suspect waved his firearm officers challenged the suspect with no response.
The officers determined this was a continuing threat and fearing for the safety of the public, Officer Jeff Henderson fired three rounds at the suspect striking him once in the lower body which caused him to fall. At this time the officers were able to approach and physically place the suspect in custody and secure his loaded weapon.
The suspect, identified as Barry Styles (a white male born May 3, 1951), was transported to a nearby hospital for non-life threatening injuries. it is ancipated that the suspect will be charged with multiple counts of feloniously pointly a firearm.
All the Tulsa Police officers in this situation acted heroically and no doubt saved lives.
Updated 01-14-2010
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