Statement from Chief Chambles regarding Officer Involved Shooting:
On March 21st, 2018, Officers Casey Lawson and Laura Lehner responded to an address on East 108th Place North in Owasso in reference to a concern that Duane Preciado was at that address and was threatening suicide. Officers were told by dispatch that Preciado was an Afghanistan war veteran. When the officers arrived, they made contact with Preciado at the front door of the residence. Officers identified themselves as Owasso Police officers and in less than one minute of making contact, Preciado threatened to shoot them. One of the officers saw what he believed to be a rifle or shotgun in the hands of Preciado. They retreated to a position of cover behind a vehicle in a neighboring driveway. While in the process of moving away from the house, officers heard what they believed to be a bullet being chambered into a gun.
While the officers were behind cover, they called for backup and began discussing their options to handle the situation safely. While still behind cover, the officers could hear Preciado yelling at them. Preciado yelled that he was going to start shooting and that he was going to kill them. At some point, Preciado exited the house and began walking towards the officers’ patrol vehicles, holding a loaded AK-47 rifle and a loaded Glock handgun. Preciado yelled at the officers, “Kill me, kill me”. At this point, Preciado was almost to the street. Officers yelled multiple commands at Preciado, ordering him to drop the guns. Preciado responded by saying, “F*** you!” Preciado turned towards the officers and raised the handgun in their direction. The rifle was also being pointed towards the officers. Both officers fired their handguns at the same time, which resulted in Preciado’s death. From the time the officers made contact with Preciado at the front door to the time the officers fired in defense of their lives, less than five minutes had passed.
The Owasso Police Department is saddened by the necessity to take a life. In the vast majority of incidents, officers are able to de-escalate a situation or use lesser means of force to resolve an issue. In this instance, Preciado gave the officers no choice but to defend their lives and the lives of innocent citizens in the neighborhood. After Preciado threatened to shoot the officers, they retreated to safety. Preciado left his home armed with two loaded firearms while stating his intent to kill the officers. Preciado refused to drop the guns and instead pointed the guns at the officers, forcing them to shoot.
Mr. Preciado spent many years in defense of our country. His life should be honored for this service and not tarnished by the choices he made on this one day. The Owasso Police Department wants to extend its gratitude to the citizens of Owasso for their show of support for our officers and the empathy expressed for the Preciado family.
Rogers County District Attorney Matt Ballard has released the following statement, “The OSBI has conducted a thorough investigation and presented the evidence collected and further briefed my staff, including my chief criminal prosecutor, first assistant, chief investigator, and myself. After reviewing the evidence provided, we have not requested any further information and are satisfied that the investigation is complete, pending compilation of the final report. I will announce my formal finding(s) when the final report is complete, which I understand will be very soon.”
Body cam footage. WARNING – Strong language and graphic content
