Tulsa Police Chief Asks Public Not to Watch Videos of Shooting That Left Sergeant Dead and Officer Wounded

Sept. 15, 2020
Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin, who spoke at a new conference on Monday, urged the public to refrain from watching the videos from the June 29 shooting that left Sgt. Craig Johnson dead and Officer Aurash Zarkeshan wounded.

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The Tulsa Police Department have released videos of a shooting that left one officer dead and another seriously wounded, but officials are asking the public not to watch it.

Police Chief Wendell Franklin, who spoke at a new conference on Monday, urged the public to refrain from watching the videos that show what unfolded during the June 29 shooting that wounded Sgt. Craig Johnson and Officer Aurash Zarkeshan, according to The Tulsa World.

Johnson died June 30 at a Tulsa hospital after being taken off of life support.

District Judge William Musseman ruled that videos from Zarkeshan’s body and dashboard cameras and Johnson’s body camera should be made public in accordance with the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

Franklin said that he disagreed with the release of the videos because of the trauma the incident has put upon officers, adding that the videos are "evidence that should be played out in court."

David Anthony Ware could face the death penalty on a first-degree murder charge in connection with Johnson’s death and also has been charged with shooting Zarkeshan with intent to kill him, drug possession with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm after a felony conviction.

Matthew Hall is accused of being an accessory after the fact on an allegation that he helped Ware evade arrest following the shooting. 

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