An inmate at the Oklahoma County jail was shot and killed by Oklahoma City police after a hostage drama Saturday. It involved a guard, who is currently receiving treatment at a hospital.
The jail was on lockdown Saturday night while there were extra staff inside, outside, a small group of protesters gathered outside the Oklahoma County Detention Center, reported News9.
Though the man who was killed was not identified by officials, they said he was the suspected hostage taker. The jail employee was later taken to a hospital for treatment. Details of his injuries are yet to be revealed.
Jail Administrator Greg Williams informed that the guard left the jail on his own. The incident took place on the jail's 10th floor, where the inmates that are the hardest to manage are kept, Williams said. The guard was taken hostage during medicine distribution, he said at a press conference Saturday night.
The hostage drama was captured on camera. The video was streamed live by some of the inmates on Facebook. It seemed like it was shot from inside the jail, using the trapped warden’s phone, officials confirmed.
The video shows the officer on his knees and his hands tied behind him with his mask pulled down, revealing his face. The officer can be seen looking panicked and sweating.
Another video shows an inmate complaining about jail conditions, saying, "We can't take showers." The video has now gone viral on other social media platforms, including Twitter.
As for the incident, the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office responded before 4:30 p.m. after the detention officer was taken hostage. The inmate grabbed his radio and keys, and also freed other inmates.
Oklahoma County Sheriff's Department officials asked for help from the Oklahoma City Police Department for additional staff.
Sheriff Tommie Johnson III said they tried to de-escalate the situation. However, he said the inmate had the officer in a “hostage position” with something held against the officer’s neck. Then the police shot and killed the inmate, reported The Oklahoman.
Oklahoma City Police Chief Wade Gourley said his department would be overseeing the investigation into the shooting.
The Rev. T. Sheri Dickerson, leader of Black Lives Matter-Oklahoma City, said inmates have repeatedly complained about certain issues like lack of water and access to basic sanitation, including showers.
“This is nothing new. The inhumane conditions of the Oklahoma County jail are horrendous," said Dickerson, who joined others standing outside the jail earlier in the day.
“They don’t respect the simple dignity of human beings when they stand up and say, ‘I am a person. I don’t deserve to be treated like this,’” Dickerson added.
She said the situation must change to protect both inmates and the Oklahomans working inside the jail.
"These aren’t people that are valuable to Oklahoma County. These are people that are throwaways. When you don’t feel like people's lives are worth anything this is what you do to them. You don’t treat them like humans,” rapper and activist Jabee Williams said.
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