4 Tulsa police officers involved in fatal shooting identified
BY AMANDA BLAND World Staff Writer
Saturday, December 01, 2012
12/01/12 at 7:57 AM
The Tulsa Police Department on Friday identified four officers involved in the fatal shooting of a wanted man a day earlier.
Cpl. Matthew Hart and Officers Eric Spradlin, David Brice and Christopher O'Keefe of the Detective Division's Fugitive Warrants Unit opened fire on Donald Hallett, 44, after he pointed a shotgun at police while fleeing a residence near 10th Street and Birmingham Avenue, police said Friday.
The officers are on administrative leave as authorities investigate the shooting.
Details such as "how many (bullets) each fired and who fired what and where those rounds ended up have not been determined," homicide Sgt. Dave Walker said Friday.
Walker said his unit generally does not determine who fired which shots unless evidence of an officer's criminal culpability in a shooting is found.
Hallett was struck multiple times by bullets fired from department-issued .40-caliber Glocks, Walker said.
Detective Division commander Maj. Walter Evans would not comment on the shooting Friday, citing the ongoing investigation.
He said homicide detectives will conduct a criminal investigation and relay their findings to the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office.
In the seven previous Tulsa police officer-involved shootings this year, the District Attorney's Office "determined that the officers involved had no criminal liability based on the facts and circumstances presented," First Assistant District Attorney Doug Drummond said.
Hallett was fatally shot about 1:45 a.m. Thursday after detectives tried to make contact with him in the 2600 block of East 10th Street, police said previously.
He was wanted on an outstanding felony warrant issued Tuesday in connection with a Nov. 20 shooting at a Tulsa motel.
Hallett, who had a shotgun, fled from the residence on foot and was killed after he pointed the weapon at pursuing officers, police said Thursday.
Brice, 39, and O'Keefe, 39, joined the Fugitive Warrants Unit in August. They've both worked for the Police Department since July 2001.
Spradlin, 38, joined the force in January 2001. He was assigned to the unit in 2008.
Hart, 42, was hired in July 1999 and has been a fugitive warrants officer since 2005.
Original Print Headline: Officers involved in fatal shooting named
Amanda Bland 918-581-8413
amanda.bland@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Donald Hallett: The 44-year-old was struck multiple times about 1:45 a.m. Thursday
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