Pipe-wielding suspect killed by officers was deaf, police say
Police were investigating a hit-and-run incident shortly before the shooting
Police were investigating a hit-and-run incident shortly before the shooting
Police were investigating a hit-and-run incident shortly before the shooting
A deaf man holding a metal pipe was shot and killed by two officers Tuesday night, police officials said.
Police were investigating a report of a hit-and-run around 8:15 p.m., said Capt. Bo Mathews, with the Oklahoma City Police Department. Officers found a vehicle that matched the description of the one in the accident.
Two officers, Sgt. Christopher Barnes and Lt. Matthew Lindsey, confronted a suspect, later identified as 35-year-old Magdiel Sanchez, holding a stick in a front yard. Officials said during a news conference Wednesday that Sanchez was actually holding up a metal pipe.
Police said the officers told Sanchez to drop the pipe, but Sanchez continued to advance toward Sgt. Barnes. Police later verified that Sanchez was deaf, but the officers didn't know that at the time of the incident.
Lt. Lindsay deployed his Taser, and at the same time, Sgt. Barnes discharged his firearm toward Sanchez, police said. Sanchez was shot and pronounced dead at the scene.
Barnes has been placed on administrative leave, according to police.