Police Identify Suspect Killed In Officer-Involved Shooting

Police have identified a man who was killed in an officer-involved shooting following a pursuit in southwest Oklahoma City, Thursday afternoon.

According to police, Metro Fugitive Task Force officers and agents were searching for the suspect, 54-year-old Steven Watters in the area of S.W. 44th and Douglas. Watters was wanted on outstanding felony warrants, including armed robbery, failure to appear on second degree burglary charges, concealing stolen property, larceny of an automobile, and possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction. 

10/30/2014 Related Story: Suspect Shot, Killed After Leading Police On Chase In SW OKC

Police said Watters was listed as armed and dangerous based on his past criminal activity. They spotted Watters in a vehicle that was driven by Rhonda Sanders.

According to police, uniformed officers were called for assistance in stopping the suspect vehicle. The suspects initially stopped in the area of S.W. 35th and Blackwelder, but then sped away just before 2 p.m., leading officers on a pursuit that ended at Draper Park in the 3800 block of S. Robinson.

The chase lasted about 15 minutes. Police said the suspect vehicle jumped the curb and drove through the park lawn towards a fenced basketball area and a creek with a significant drop off. 

Watters reportedly exited the passenger side of the vehicle and fled into the creek with officers nearby on foot. That's when Watters pulled out a firearm, and Sergeants Matthew Gilmore and Michael Levescy discharged their weapons in response.

Officers said they quickly removed Watters from the water in the creek, disarmed him, and called for medical assistance. Watters was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the suspect vehicle, Sanders, was detained and released pending further investigation. Sergeants Levescy and Gilmore were placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigations.

The police department's Homicide Unit will conduct the criminal investigation.

Several law enforcement agencies were involved in the incident, including Oklahoma City police, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms Agents, United States Marshals Service, and Cleveland County Sheriff's Office.