The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer- involved shooting that occurred Saturday, Dec. 27, near Lindsay as Garvin County Sheriff’s Deputies were trying to execute a search warrant.
According to a statement released by OSBI Sunday morning, Garvin County Deputies executed the search warrant around 7:30 p.m. Saturday at a residence off State Highway 19, just east of Lindsay. The warrant was regarding an individual in possession of a firearm after a felony conviction.
“When deputies arrived at the home, they made contact with the adult male suspect, who brandished a firearm. When deputies attempted to provide commands, the suspect did not comply, resulting in an officer-involved shooting,” according to the release from OSBI.
Garvin County Sheriff Jim Mullett this week identified the suspect who was shot as 52-year-old Christopher Allen Morgan of Lindsay.
Court records show Morgan was charged in May with three felony counts of possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction and knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property.
Call logs from Garvin County 911 show dispatchers received a call around 11:30 a.m. Saturday reporting gunshots from the area of Morgan’s address on State Highway 19, east of Lindsay.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed Tuesday by the Sheriff’s Office, after being made aware of the report officers familiar with Morgan’s previous charges and prior felony convictions obtained a search warrant for the address, which they attempted to serve Saturday evening.
The probable cause affidavit filed Tuesday alleges as four deputies entered the house, Morgan entered the kitchen of the residence from the hallway leading to his bedroom with a semi-automatic pistol in his hand. He refused to obey commands from deputies to drop the weapon, instead raising the pistol in the direction of the deputies. One of the officers fired one shot, striking Morgan in the lower abdomen, according to the affidavit, which says Morgan then fell to the floor and dropped the weapon.
The OSBI statement said deputies provided life-saving measures to the suspect, who was transported to a local hospital in stable condition. There were no other injuries during the altercation.
The Sheriff’s Office requested OSBI’s assistance with the investigation. According to OSBI’s statement, once the investigation is completed, the case will be provided to the District 21 District Attorney's Office, who will determine whether any additional charges are warranted.
The officer involved in the shooting is on leave pending the outcome of OSBI’s investigation. There is no word as of yet as to when that investigation will be concluded.
Mullett said Monday he was on scene with deputies as they served the warrant Saturday night.
Speaking during the public comments segment of Monday’s county commissioners meeting, Mullett said he was proud of how deputies responded during the weekend incident. “They did everything right. They immediately rendered aid and got EMS there. The suspect went to the hospital, and we were able to go home to our families,” Mullett said.
Additional charges were filed against Morgan Tuesday including two felony counts of possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction and misdemeanor charges for possession of a controlled dangerous substance and drug paraphernalia.
As of press time Wednesday, Mullett said Morgan was still hospitalized in stable condition.