Veteran Oklahoma police officer, one of two who were shot during a traffic stop on Monday dies as his partner clings to life – The shooter ex-con, David Ware, 32, in custody
Tulsa police Sgt Craig Johnson, 45, died of his injuries on Tuesday after being shot during a traffic stop Monday morning
Sgt Craig Johnson was one of two Oklahoma police officers who were shot during a traffic stop in Tulsa on Monday
Johnson’s partner, rookie officer Aurash Zarkeshan remains in serious condition after being shot in the head and body
Hours after the shooting, suspect David Anthony Ware, was arrested on murder and weapons charges
Ware, 32, went on the run and was arrested following a manhunt that lasted more than seven hours
He faces charges of murder, shooting with intent to kill and firearm possession
Authorities said the two officers encountered Ware early Monday morning and a scuffle ensued
Ware’s vehicle reportedly had expired temporary tags and would be towed
He refused 12 times to exit his vehicle when asked, prompting officers to deploy a Taser gun and pepper spray
Ware an excon, fought through the Taser gun before allegedly pulling a gun from under his seat, firing several rounds at the officers
His allegedly getaway driver Matt Hall, is also in custody and faces a count of being an accessory murder and a related charge
Johnson, a 15-year veteran of the force, leaves behind a wife and two sons
Police Sgt Craig Johnson,[left], died of his injuries on Tuesday after being shot during a traffic stop in Tulsa, Okla., on Monday. Officer Aurash Zarkeshan, [right], remains hospitalized in serious condition
Authorities said David Anthony Ware, [photo], shot the two officers after an alleged scuffle during a traffic stop early Monday morning in Tulsa, Oklahoma
A patrol car at the division where the officers worked has been covered in flowers, balloons, American flags and handmade signs as a tribute.
Johnson and rookie officer Aurash Zarkeshan were shot at about 3.30am on Monday during a traffic stop.
The suspected gunman, 32-year-old David Anthony Ware, went on the run and was arrested following a manhunt that lasted more than seven hours.
According to a previous press conference, Zarkeshan pulled Ware over as he drove a 2007 Chevy Cobalt near 8900 E. 21st street.
It was discovered that the vehicle had expired temporary tags, prompting Zarkeshan and Johnson, who arrived on the scene as backup, to inform Ware that the car would be towed.
Ware reportedly argued that the officers were ‘violating his rights’ and refused to exit the vehicle at their request.
A standoff lasted several minutes and involved officers asking Ware to vacate the vehicle a total of 12 times.
Melanie Dickey, a registered nurse places an item on a makeshift memorial for shot Tulsa Police Officers, Sgt. Craig Johnson and Officer Aurash Zarkeshan at Mingo Valley Division in Tulsa
Anna Hok,[left], and Terrie Dyer pray at a makeshift memorial for the Tulsa police officers, Craig Johnson and Aurash Zarkeshan on Tuesday
Aaron Myers – an Off duty Tulsa Police Officer – adjusts items on the makeshift memorial Tuesday for his two colleaguse who came under attack during a traffic stop, killing one and injururing the other
As Ware continued to refuse, the sergeant displayed his Taser and did what is called an ‘arc,’ meaning he showed that the tool was on. He did that three times.
Ware still refused to exit the vehicle, so Johnson deployed the Taser gun at the suspect.
Ware managed to fight the electric shocks and was not disabled by the Taser.
The officers then tried to forcibly remove Ware from the car. During the struggle, one of the men also used pepper-spray on Ware, authorities said.
Ware eventually exited the vehicle, but brandished a handgun and proceeded to fire several rounds at the officers, authorities said.
Officer Zarkeshan pulled David Ware over as he drove this 2007 Chevy Cobalt near 8900 E. 21st Street because it had expired temporary tags around 3:30am on Monday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The encounter escalated into a blood bath
Shooter: Ware [L-R], allegedly refused to exit his car so it could be towed, and a scuffle ensued. Johnson used a Taser on the suspect, but it failed to disable him
Ware then allegedly stood over Johnson after he had been hit and shot him three more times.
Then, Ware slowly walked to a waiting vehicle driven by Hall and fled the scene.
The injured officers were left lying on the ground as Ware sped away.
Police employed helicopters and dogs to track down the suspected gunman. After following several leads, they found him at a house and got him to surrender.
Ware’s alleged accomplice, Hall, was arrested later Tuesday in Broken Arrow.
Johnson had joined Tulsa police in 2005 and was promoted to sergeant in 2015, Franklin said.
David Anthony Ware faces charges of murder, shooting with intent to kill and firearm possession. His accomplice Matt Hall faces a count of being an accessory murder and a related charge. Both are being held without bond at the Tulsa jail
Ware’s allegedly getaway driver Matt Hall, [photo], faces a count of being an accessory murder and a related charge
Sgt. Johnson was a good man who made our lives better, who trained his fellow officers to be better,’ said Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum.
He continued: ‘Tulsa’s a city that loves and honors heroes. Today we feel the tremendous pain of losing one. In the days ahead, I hope that both the Johnson family and the men and women of the Tulsa Police Department will feel our city gathered around them, showing that same love for them that Sgt. Johnson and his sacrifice showed for us.’
Oklahoma Gov Kevin Stitt released a statement on Tuesday, calling the officers’ shooting a ‘senseless act of violence.’
‘My hope is that Sgt. Johnson is forever remembered for the heroism, courage and bravery he displayed while protecting Tulsa for 15 years,’ Stitt stated.
Franklin said Johnson was survived by his wife, two young sons and parents. He said Johnson’s family had decided to donate his organs.
Authorities in Tulsa search for David Ware on Monday afternoon after he shot two police officers during a traffic stop
Officers called in aerial support and K9 units in their attempts to locate David Ware in Tulsa on Monday
A motive for the shooting was unclear. Tulsa police Capt. Richard Meulenberg said Ware had no known bias against the police.
Ware faces charges of murder, shoot with intent to kill and firearm possession, and Hall faces a count of being an accessory murder and a related charge. Both are being held without bond at the Tulsa jail.
Records indicate that Ware has a lengthy criminal history, which includes a burglary conviction and arrests on a wide array of charges, including grand larceny, resisting arrest, carrying a concealed weapon, drug possession and shoplifting.
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