Friday, May 9, 2008

After more than 10 hours, Police say John Thomas, 55, surrendered a little after 6.30pm.

Police were called to a house on the 3000 block of NE 9th early Thursday morning, and found a man Oklahoma City police say has a lengthy criminal record and a strong dislike of the law.

A little before 8am Thursday police were called out on a domestic dispute.

"One of the family members came out of the house and said the subject was inside the house and the individual did have access to guns," says Oklahoma City Police Capt.. Steve McCool.

That's when police say Sgt. Clay Williams and another police officer made it inside the front of the house to talk to the suspect and saw he had a gun.

"The subject was told to drop the gun," says McCool. "He obviously didn't. He fired that weapon. The other officer was able to grab Williams and began to pull him from the house and was returning cover fire to give protection as they made their way out of the house."

Police say the 19-year veteran was shot in the shoulder. He was transported to OU Medical Center.

"He's pretty good," says Clay Williams II, the shot officer's son. "He's talking. He wants to leave. The doctors are saying, 'No you got to wait,' but he's ready to go."

After the shooting, the suspect barricaded himself inside the home. Police say they've made numerous attempts at communication including throwing in a cell phone and using a robot.

As far as Williams is concerned, his son says there's a sense of relief for them.

"He feels lucky," says Williams II. "It could have been a lot worse."