Suspects in Shooting of Warr Acres Police Officer Arrested

A Warr Acres police officer that was shot during a routine traffic stop Thursday night near the Golden Corral on Northwest Expressway is said to be doing just fine.

Friday, September 11th 2009, 1:00 am

By: News 9


News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A Warr Acres police officer that was shot during a routine traffic stop Thursday night near the Golden Corral on Northwest Expressway is said to be doing just fine.

Sgt. Scott Schatzer was wearing a bulletproof vest when he was shot Thursday night in the northwest Oklahoma City suburb, police said. The 39-year-old officer was treated and released from an area hospital.

During the traffic stop, one of the people inside the car shot at Schatzer. Two other people inside the car, Ryan Lee Williams, 28, and Wilona Louis McLeod, 24, were also shot and taken to the hospital in an unknown condition.

Felix Verdusco, 28, and Cara Elise Ennis, 25, were also inside the car and ran from the scene. Both were eventually found and taken into custody.

Police don't know why the suspects opened fire Thursday night but said they do believe it may have had something to do with drugs.

Warr Acres police said regardless of the reason for the shooting, they are very lucky not to have lost one of their own.

Sergeant Schatzer initially pulled over the suspect's vehicle after he noticed the SUV had expired tags. Police said shortly after, the four suspects inside begin throwing drug paraphernalia from the windows and then sped off.

"He acted like he was going to stop and he just bolted through the parking lot, went off in this neighborhood and I heard about five or six gunshots," said Laura Boggs who witnessed the incident.

Police said the bullet that hit Sergeant Schatzer on his side could have killed him if it weren't for the department's new bulletproof vests.

"The vest we're wearing we've had a year as opposed to those we were a year ago. These have the side protection and if we hadn't upgraded these vests, he would have taken the round," said Warr Acres Police Chief Roger L. Patty.

Schatzer and the other officers involved in Thursday night's incident are being commended for their quick thinking and for keeping the public safe.

"They do wonderful things for us and protect and, so your concerned about their safety and what they have to contend with as far as people on the street," said Thomas Lay, whose business close to where the shooting took place.

As a standard procedure Sergeant Schatzer has been put on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The four suspects involved in the shooting have previously had several run-ins with police.

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