POTEAU, Okla. — Authorities say the man, identified as Damon Henderson, had previously opened fire at officers at around 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 8 at the Harps grocery store on Broadway Street in Spiro.
According to Spiro PD, Henderson discharged one round at Police Chief Larry Crossland, which struck his vehicle. Chief Crossland was not injured. Henderson then fled the scene.
After a manhunt on the afternoon of Feb.9, Henderson was reportedly shot by officers and was later pronounced dead.
A release from Spiro Schools to parents and guardians says that the high school campus was heavily patrolled last night after police attempted to apprehend Henderson but were unsuccessful.
One neighbor, Joanna Whitfield, says that Henderson was allegedly subdued sometime during the shooting at Harps, and that "If they would have handcuffed him and put him in the car, this would have never happened. If they felt he was that much of a danger when he got out, why didn't you handcuff him?"
Whitfield also said that she has "never heard anything bad or negative about Damon. I just know he loved his dogs; he didn't bother anyone."
According to officers at the scene, Henderson shot at police, and an officer returned fire. No officers were injured, but after being transported to a Fort Smith hospital, the suspect was pronounced dead.
Henderson's grandmother, Ladell Phillips, said that "I guess he just snapped and said 'well, if you're gonna shoot me I'm gonna shoot you first.' Because anybody can tell you Damon doesn't bother anybody. He likes his dogs and his bicycle."
On Feb. 10, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) released a timeline of events of what is "known at this time." The OSBI is now investigating the shooting that killed Henderson.
Here is the timeline given by the OSBI:
- On the evening of Feb. 8, Spiro police were notified that a man was "brandishing a handgun" near the Harps on Broadway
- Spiro Police Chief found the man, identified him as Henderson, and pursued him
- Henderson fired his gun at the Chief, but missed hitting the tailgate of his police truck
- Henderson fled but was located "a short time later" hiding in a home in Spiro
- After "tactical officers" arrived, Henderson escaped again. Officers searched for him throughout the night
- On the afternoon of Feb. 9, officers found Henderson on Southeast 4th Street when "Henderson stopped and faced the Spiro officer who was in the driver's seat of the vehicle."
- The officer was "attempting to de-escalate the situation" when Henderson allegedly fired his gun, hitting the driver's door
- The officer returned fire and hit Henderson, who later died from his injuries at the hospital
The OSBI said their investigation is still ongoing and no additional information will be released at this time.
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