The incident occurred Tuesday evening after an accident led officers to a house where Magdiel Sanchez, 35, was outside on the porch, Oklahoma City Police Capt. Bo Mathews said at a press conference Wednesday.
The pipe Sanchez was carrying had been fashioned into a fairly large weapon, like a club, Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty said in a press conference Thursday afternoon. The pipe had been tied to Sanchez’s wrist so that it wouldn’t come out of his hand when used, Citty said.
Officers were acting on information from a witness who told police where they could find a green truck allegedly involved in the accident, in which the truck hit something and drove off. No person was struck in the collision.
Police Lt. Matthew Lindsey arrived at the location identified by the witness and found a green truck allegedly matching the description from the accident parked there.
Sanchez was on the porch of the home when he advanced to the front yard holding what Mathews said was a pipe in his right hand.
The police officer called for backup, and another officer, Sgt. Christopher Barnes, arrived, after which both officers shouted to Sanchez to drop the pipe he was carrying as he proceeded forward, Mathews said.
The officers didn’t hear neighbors at the scene yelling to them that Sanchez couldn’t hear them, Mathews said.
“As he started going toward these officers with a pipe in his hand, the officers discharged their weapons,” Mathews said.
Lindsey fired his stun gun at the suspect, and Barnes shot his gun, hitting Sanchez.