Posted on 11/27/2019 10:27:48 AM PST by Altura Ct.
Micheal Ann Godsey fired at her mother, police, and at least one citizen during a shooting spree in May.
Oklahoma City, OK A Blackwell police lieutenant who stopped an active shooter during a rolling gunfight has been indicted for second-degree murder.
Its a sad day for law enforcement and society, the lieutenants attorney, Gary James, told The Oklahoman.
The incident began at approximately 3 a.m. on May 20, when Blackwell police received reports that someone was firing a gun in the 1300-block of South Main, KFOR reported.
At least one of the rounds had struck a vehicle.
While officers responded to the scene, the dispatch center received additional calls that someone in a white pickup was firing rounds at several locations around Blackwell.
The suspect, later identified as 34-year-old Micheal Ann Godsey, ultimately opened fire on police as they pursued her through the town, The Oklahoman reported.
"She shot at the police twice. She has shot at her mother twice. She has shot at a private citizen. We know she fired other rounds around town, James told the paper.
Blackwell Police Lieutenant John Mitchell managed to pull in behind the active shooters vehicle.
"He took his AR-15 and he started shooting through the front windshield at her, James said, according to The Oklahoman.
Godsey jerked the wheel and abruptly turned at stopped near Doolin Avenue and 13th Avenue, KFOR reported.
Lt. Mitchell and another officer fired additional rounds at the suspects pickup.
They discovered the shooter dead in the drivers seat a short while later.
One of the officers suffered a minor injury during the shootout, according to the Associated Press.
James said that Lt. Mitchell did what he had to do to stop a violent, fleeing felon, The Oklahoman reported.
He noted that the lieutenant had completed active shooter response training shortly before the fatal altercation, and that an independent internal affairs committee had cleared him of any wrongdoing.
On Nov. 21, a state grand jury determined that Lt. Mitchell engaged in imminently dangerous conduct towards Godsey without excusable or justifiable cause by firing approximately 60 rounds during the gun battle, The Oklahoman reported.
He faces up to 10 years in prison if he is convicted of the second-degree murder charge against him.
Lt. Mitchell was released on his own recognizance during a bond hearing on Monday, KFOR reported.
He was subsequently processed at the Kay County Detention Center before he was allowed to return home.
Oklahoma Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) President Jason Smith said he fully supports Lt. Mitchell.
We look forward to this working through the justice system, Smith told WFOR. We believe that when the facts of the case are brought out to the public, that LT. Mitchell will be put back to work where he needs to be.
Using deadly force was the last thing the lieutenant wanted to do, the union president added.
He didn`t wake up that day with the [intent] to take a human life, he told KFOR. It`s the worst thing that he could ever imagine having to do.
Smith noted that the indictment against Lt. Mitchell marked the first time in American history that a police officer or anybody was charged with the crime of murder for shooting at an active shooter, KTUL reported.
He said that he believes Lt. Mitchell will be acquitted of the charge against him once all the facts are known, according to KFOR.
Lt. Mitchells supporters said they were stunned to learn about the grand jurys indictment, KTUL reported.
"To me, you return fire until the threat is neutralized, Sean Ingram told the news outlet. You don't know if it's going to be one or one hundred.
Youre being shot at, another resident added. Where do you draw that line?
Ingram said that Lt. Mitchell is the most honorable person he knows.
I will back him all the way, he said.
Lt. Mitchells preliminary hearing has been set for Dec. 18
Do not know procedures in Oklahoma, but generally Grand Juries are advised by local Prosecutors. Assuming as much, this is a very strange situation. It should be quietly investigated, before it goes to trial.
Well. then he must be guilty.
I'd like to hear the grand jury defend that. I'd like to hear them explain their "logic" behind coming to this conclusion. She had demonstrably put other peoples' lives in danger by firing a deadly weapon at them. She was operating a vehicle - also a deadly weapon - evading law enforcement. Should they have waited until she plowed into some innocents before attempting to stop her?
Just what the * is an excusable or justifiable cause? Crazy person shooting up the town sounds extremely justifiable to me.
Why was it presented to the Grand Jury?
That was my point. Questioning why anyone would ever need more than a 10 round mag is an argument the left uses.
The DA is probably a flaming lib, anti-2nd, gun/cop-hater.
The DA makes that decision.
Liberal, anti-cop/gun DA.
IMHO, he is going to be very well compensated for this idiocy... Just what were the criteria used in seating the grand jury? Only demoncrats, antifa, moslems, and prison escapees were selected??
Ah I see- misunderstood you post-
Please ping me if you hear any updates on this case.
Leni
WHO is the district attorney?
Where did the other 59 rounds go? Spray and pray?
I lived in Oklahoma for a long time. The local police "Them v Us" attitude is VERY strong. Cops get a pass where mere civilians do not. I personally saw a local, off duty and staggering drunk, roll his car at the I-40 Shawnee exit. Called 911, and the drunk blue brother just got a ride home.
There is the habit of hiring warm-to-the-touch officers, who stagger through state training with a nod to the local Good Ol' Boy network. The Oklahoma FOP would protect Charles Manson if he had a badge.
Okie cops, and tribal police, and county mounties are notorious for 56 in a 55 tickets, on the assumption that they won't be contested.
I'll wait for more data.
WTF?
The Grand Jury and prosecutor should be brought up on charges.
The officers actions were immediate and justified.
The Grand Jury is busy looking at the situation through the lense of being "politically correct."
” pulled in behind the active shooter’s vehicle.”
fired through the front windhield.
With magic bullets? HTF do you do that?
I will let other FReepers explain the obvious...
LoL
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