Ponca City suicide shooter identified

Staff and wire reports

PONCA CITY, Okla. -- A woman who shot herself in the chest in the middle of a city street has been identified as 38-year-old Lynda R. Hadley, police said.

Police spokeswoman Sherry Bowers said two officers heard a gun shot in the air behind the police station. Both Patrolman Nathan Wells and Lt. Earl Watkins drew their weapons and alerted headquarters when they spotted Hadley holding a 38 caliber handgun in the middle of Walnut St.

Officers ordered the woman several times to drop her gun. Instead, Hadley turned the gun on herself and shot herself in the chest.

She was transported to the Ponca City Medical Center. As of 4:15 p.m. Tuesday afternoon her condition was listed as stable. She has since been flown to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kan.