Charges Filed in Lawton Police Involved Shooting
By: David Gonzalez
Updated: March 7, 2013
The Comanche County District Attorney's Office filed numerous felony charges on Wednesday morning against two suspects in connection with a shooting in which a Lawton police officer and a suspect were shot.
The charges were filed against Demetrius Miller and Jamal Johnson.
Miller is charged with six counts: two counts of shooting with intent to kill, possession of a fire arm, conspiracy to commit burglary in the second degree, attempted burglary in the second degree and use of a fire arm during the commission of a felony.
Also, Johnson is charged with six counts: one county of shooting with intent to kill, conspiracy to commit burglary in the second degree, attempted burglary in the second degree, use of a fire arm during the commission of a felony, possession of a fire arm and escape from arrest or detention.
According to Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Richard Goss, on Feb. 27, around 10:30 a.m., a concerned citizen called Lawton police after noticing two men around their neighbors home.
The suspicious behavior prompted the citizen to believe the home was being broken into.
The citizen say the elderly homeowner return home and the two suspects flee from the backyard.
With the help of the concerned citizen's description, Lawton Police Officer Eric Weatherly saw the two suspects, identified as Demetrius Miller and Jamal Johnson, and was able to make a stop near the intersection of 27th and Atlanta.
Agent Goss says as Officer Weatherly attempted to pat down Miller and Johnson, Miller began to physically fight the officer while Johnson took off running.
Goss says as the Weatherly and Miller struggled, Miller managed to pull a 9mm pistol and shot Weatherly in the hip.
Weatherly was able to return fire and Miller attempted to flee.
Goss says Officer Craig Lymen was responding to the scene and encountered Miller as he tried to flee and Miller began shooting at Lymen.
According to Goss, Officer Lymen had no time to get out of his patrol car and immediately began shooting at Miller through the patrol car's windshield.
Goss says Miller ran back toward Weatherly and as he ran pass the officer, he once again fired at him.
Goss says the exchange in gunfire ended when Miller ran out of bullets and was hit four times in the lower portion of his body.
During the second shootout, Weatherly was also shot in the leg.
Goss says during the shootout, Miller fired at least nine rounds and the officers also fired a combined nine rounds.
Later that evening, Johnson was tracked down and arrested.
"The shooting was absolute nonsense," Goss says. "Set aside the fact that a uniformed officer was senselessly shot while trying to protect the public. The fact that this occurred during mid-morning, in a nice residential neighborhood, less than a block away from the most heavily traveled street in this community is simply unacceptable."
Goss exclaims the Lawton Police Department, OSBI, Comanche County District Attorney's Office and other agencies involved will have zero tolerance on this type of behavior.
Lawton Police Chief James Smith says his department will use the full extent of the law to prosecute any individuals that are involved in this type of activity.
Smith says both Officer Lymen and Officer Weatherly remain on administrative leave.
"Of course the officer who was injured, he's recuperating so it's going to be a while before he comes back to full duty and I ask that, ask for his prayers, for his speedy recovery," Smith says.
Goss says additional charges could be filed against Miller and Johnson.
