On a rainy evening in an Oklahoma City neighborhood, a tragic incident unfolded resulting in the death of 47-year-old Brandon Lena, who was shot by police after aiming a firearm at them. This encounter occurred around 3:11 a.m. on August 2 when officers responded to reports of a suicidal individual in the area. Despite their extensive efforts to deescalate the situation for nearly an hour, the situation escalated rapidly. Bodycam footage and other recordings reveal that Lena, after being hit by a less-than-lethal projectile, sat up and pointed his weapon at the officers, prompting three police officers to open fire. The Oklahoma County grand jury reviewed this incident and ultimately decided not to bring any charges against the officers involved, clearing them of any wrongdoing.
The grand jury’s decision came after careful examination of various forms of evidence, including bodycam and dashcam videos, as well as testimonies from investigators regarding the incident. According to Captain Valerie Littlejohn, the officers acted in defense after Lena posed a threat with his firearm. The officers directly involved in the shooting were identified as James Doran, Joshua Geerdes, and Jimmy Hatfield. The grand jury had also been reviewing other use-of-force incidents involving police officers in Oklahoma County, including a recent fatal shooting in Edmond.
In Edmond, another incident also drew scrutiny. On August 23, 25-year-old Billy Ray Factor was shot and killed by officers while he was on a balcony outside his ex-girlfriend’s apartment. This confrontation followed reports of an intruder at a nearby apartment, leading to Officer Garrett Hill and Officer Ismael Fiorina confronting Factor, who allegedly fired a gun at the officers upon their approach. The ensuing chaos, captured on bodycam footage, escalated quickly, resulting in the use of deadly force by the police.
Another situation of concern involved Ross Norwood, a 66-year-old man who was shot by police sergeant Nathan Fountain after he allegedly set fire to a carpet on his porch. Norwood, who has been in custody since early September, faces multiple serious charges, including first-degree arson and assault with a dangerous weapon. His attorney asserts that Norwood is currently mentally incompetent to stand trial, complicating the legal proceedings surrounding his case.
The Oklahoma County grand jury has been convening for approximately a year, tasked with making determinations regarding police shootings and use-of-force incidents. Since its inception, the grand jury has not indicted any officers in connection with these shootings, a trend that has garnered attention from both the public and legal circles. Under the leadership of new district attorney Vicki Behenna, there have been calls for more thorough investigations into officer-involved shootings throughout Oklahoma County, contrasting with previous practices whereby decisions were predominantly made by the former district attorney, David Prater.
In summary, the recent events involving Brandon Lena and other police engagements underscore the complexities surrounding law enforcement’s use of deadly force. The lack of indictments from the grand jury following high-profile cases raises critical questions about accountability and the challenges facing police departments in responding to volatile situations. As the district attorney’s office continues to navigate these sensitive issues, the community remains vigilant, hoping for justice and reforms that could address systemic concerns within the law enforcement framework.