Body cam footage shows suspect pointing gun at OKC police officer

Jun 28, 2023

Both the officer and the suspect walked away from the incident unharmed.

Both the officer and the suspect walked away from the incident unharmed.

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Both the officer and the suspect walked away from the incident unharmed.

In newly released body camera footage, a suspect pointed a gun at an Oklahoma City police officer.

Both the officer and the suspect walked away from the incident unharmed.

KOCO 5 spoke with an attorney who represents officers in deadly force cases. Attorney Gary James said he thinks that if the officer would’ve shot his firearm, it would have been justified.

>> More on this: Body camera video shows suspect pointing gun at police officer before standoff in NW OKC

The suspect, Antwon Hill, pointed the gun directly at Officer Andrew Ash.

"When you watch that video, the first few times I watched that video, you’re thinking, 'Shoot him, shoot him,'" James said.

As the suspect continues to approach Ash, the officer falls and fires his gun.

"As you watch the video, I think the officer would have been justified very early on to use deadly force," James said.

>> Related: Oklahoma City police launching real-life training to improve responses

However, the officer didn’t. James, who represented several officers involved in situations like this, said he thinks that’s because of fear.

"Because, overall, of how society feels about police officers, the anti-police movement and more particularly in this county, police officers being charged in deadly force situations that they believe they have a right to do," James said.

Before they can wear a badge, officers are now going through reality-based training that teaches them de-escalation techniques that don’t involve deadly force.

"We want them to use every option they can to make their firearm the last resort," said Chief Wade Gourley of the Oklahoma City Police Department.

If James said that the officer would have been justified in using deadly force, one question remains: Why didn’t the officer shoot? KOCO 5 has reached out to OCPD for answers but hasn't heard back at this time.

Police arrested the suspect, and he is now charged with three counts, including being a felon with a firearm.