Drones locate & help arrest a suspect in an officer-involved shooting
OKCPD officers were called to an incident where a hostile suspect had barricaded himself within a property. A Skydio X10 was deployed to provide overwatch while officers negotiated with the suspect. Eventually the suspect broke down the exterior wall of the property and began shooting at the officers below, all of which was captured by the X10 – providing critical insight to officers on the ground during the dangerous situation. Officers apprehended the suspect while keeping the community and themselves safe.
- I'm Captain Valerie Littlejohn with the Office of Media Relations.
- I want to update you on an officer-involved shooting
- that occurred on September
- 2nd, 2024. It was just before 4:00 PM when officers were
- called to 116 Southeast 41st Street in reference to a
- man shooting a gun at another person.
- When officers arrived, the suspect had gone back into his home
- and refused to come
- out. The suspect was identified as Mario Cruz.
- Initial officers on scene spent about three hours trying to get Cruz to
- surrender peacefully with no success.
- Officers attempted to communicate with Cruz in both English and Spanish.
- Mario, we need you to come outside with your
- hands in the air.
- We can't leave until we talk to you.
- Come outside with your hands in the air.
- [loudspeaker]
- When
- negotiations were unsuccessful, the tactical unit was called
- and arrived on
- scene to assist. After several more hours of attempting to
- negotiate with
- Cruz, he crawled into the attic space of the
- residence and began breaking out
- one of the exterior attic walls. Once Cruz was able to open
- up part of the wall, he pointed his firearm at officers
- multiple times from an
- elevated position. While in this position, he began shooting at the
- officers. After being shot at, one of the officers deployed
- a 40 millimeter less lethal round, striking Cruz in the body.
- Cruz then fired his gun at officers again.
- At least one officer was struck with shrapnel during these
- shots by Cruz.
- After shooting at officers, Cruz jumped to the ground,
- still holding the gun.
- He walked around the back of the house where he confronted tactical unit
- officers.
- Cruz was given commands in both English and Spanish to drop the gun, but failed to
- follow the officers' commands. One officer discharged his firearm,
- striking
- Cruz. Officers and medical personnel on scene
- began rendering aid
- to Cruz, who was transported to an area hospital by
- ambulance and is
- expected to survive his injuries.
- The officer involved was placed on routine administrative leave
- pending the outcome
- of the investigation.
Watch Time
2 Mins 1 Secs