TULSA, Okla. – Before the Tulsa Police Department released video of two officers being shot, Chief Wendell Franklin urged the public to avoid watching.
He said the public shouldn’t be able to “see the execution of a police officer.”
“What kind of…
TULSA, Okla. – Before the Tulsa Police Department released video of two officers being shot, Chief Wendell Franklin urged the public to avoid watching.
He said the public shouldn’t be able to “see the execution of a police officer.”
“What kind of society is that?” he said.
The video, recorded on Officer Aurash Zarkeshan’s patrol car camera and body-worn cameras on Zarkeshan and Sgt. Craig Johnson, shows the suspect shoot both officers after a traffic stop in the overnight hours of June 29.
Johnson died from his wounds.
The video also shows the alleged accomplice’s car arriving on scene after showing Ware calling for help.
The alleged accomplice, Matthew Hall, is accused of driving Ware away from the scene after the shooting.
Franklin said Zarkeshan originally pulled Ware over because of a wide turn that, combined with the time of night, could indicate an intoxicated driver.
Ware started shooting the officers 17 minutes after he was pulled over, according to the video.
Zarkeshan was severely wounded. On June 29th, 2020 Craig sustained multiple gunshot wounds, one of which was a critical wound to his head. After undergoing surgery, Craig’s prognosis did not improve, and he was placed on life support to give his family time to say their farewells. Today, June 30, 2020, in a decision made with his family, Craig’s organs will be donated as his final act of service for our community.
Tulsa Police Sergeant Craig Johnson officially passed away June 30th, 2020 at 1:19pm, leaving behind his two young boys, his wife, his parents, and hundreds of his brothers and sisters with the police department.
Prior to Craig’s passing, Chief Wendell Franklin awarded Sergeant Johnson with the Tulsa Police Department Purple Heart for injuries sustained in the line of duty on June 29th, 2020.
Johnson joined the department in 2005, he was a patrol officer at Mingo Valley Division until he was promoted to Sergeant in 2015. After his promotion, he worked as a Divisional Investigator at Gilcrease Division until August of 2019 and was last assigned to Mingo Valley Division as a graveyard shift supervisor. Craig’s passing is a tremendous loss to the department and the community he served.
