Oklahoma City Police release body cam video of deadly officer-involved shooting of armed man
By: Oklahoma City Police released body camera video Friday showing the moments officers shot and killed a man in a Southeast Oklahoma City neighborhood earlier this month.
News 4 reported on August 2 when officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department (OKCPD) shot and killed a man early in the morning after officers said he pointed a gun at them outside his home near Tinker Air Force Base.
On Friday, OKCPD released body camera video from the three officers involved in the shooting.
The department identified the man officers shot and killed as Brandon Lena.
An OKCPD spokesperson said officers responded to 7021 Eagles Landing just before 3:30 a.m. on Aug., 2. After 9-1-1 callers told them, Lena was standing in the street with a gun, threatening “suicide by cop.”
The body camera video begins as officers stepped out of their cars onto the street near the spot Lena was standing.
“I’m a member of the crisis intervention team,” an officer shouted to Lena. “I was wondering if I could talk to you guys.”
As the video progresses, multiple officers can be heard telling Lena to put his gun down.
“Brandon, put the gun back, put the gun down,” an officer can be heard saying shortly after stepping out of his car.
OKCPD’s spokesperson said Lena began pointing his gun toward officers.
“Brandon, put the gun down,” an officer shouted again.
“He’s pointing—it looks like he’s pointing it at you,” an officer said to a fellow officer while picking up a gun leaning against a police cruiser.
The OKCPD spokesperson said officers then fired their “less-than-lethal” weapon, shooting 40mm projectiles intended to subdue Lena.
The body camera video shows that Lena continued standing with his gun after officers fired the less-than-lethal shot at him.
Officers then continue trying to get Lena to drop his gun.
“Could you please set it down for me again,” an officer can be heard telling Lena in a calming tone. “That way, I can make sure that you’ll be safe. And that my officers will be safe. We’re just out here to help you. All these officers don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Throughout the time that the officer spoke, Lena continued holding his gun, waving it around.
“He’s pointing it,” an officer can be heard telling another officer.
“He’s trying suicide by cop, for sure,” another officer responded.
“Oh god. If he points it again, I’m gonna have to take him–,” another officer can be heard saying, before the video abruptly cuts off.
After that, officers still tried talking with Lena.
“Brandon, there you go, can you set it right down there in the street,” an officer can be heard telling Lena.
The OKCPD spokesperson said just before 4:10 a.m., officers decided to fire their “less-than-lethal” weapon once more.
The bodycam video shows Lena falling to the ground after being hit by the less-than-lethal round.
While the video is hard to make out, the OKCPD spokesperson said officers saw Lena point his gun at officers immediately after falling to the ground.
“Shoot him again! Shoot him again,” a supervising officer can be heard shouting about one second after Lena fell to the ground due to the less-than-lethal round.
In the following few seconds, officers can be heard firing multiple rounds of gunshots at Lena.
Police say Lena was instantly killed when officers shot him.