By Chad Previch and Jesse Olivarez, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Okla. -- Two other people -- a man and a woman -- also were treated for gunshot wounds, police said.
The shooting started after two men argued about a woman at the Rio Bravo Bar, 712 S Walker Ave, police said.
One man left but returned about 12:15 a.m. with a gun, Capt. Jeffrey Becker said.
Shooting at police
When police officers Kenneth Lile, Brian “Kyle” Bennett and Chad VonTungeln arrived at the bar, the man and police started shooting at each other, Becker said.
Bennett was shot in the chest, but the bullet was stopped by the protective body armor he was wearing. He suffered only a bruise, reports indicated.
VonTungeln was shot in the arm.
Both officers were taken to a city hospital for treatment and were released, Becker said.
The name of the man who was shooting was not released. He died at the scene.
The other man and woman were each shot in the arm. Their names also were not released. They, too, were both treated and released, Becker said.
Police estimated about 150 people were in the bar at the time of the shooting.
Officers from several units, including the newly formed bilingual unit, responded to the scene.
The three officers have been placed on routine administrative leave with pay pending an investigation.
“Investigators want to find out why the suspect confronted the officers and the situation turned out like it did,” Becker said.
Police and bar employees said the man was in his early 30s.
An employee who didn’t want her name to be used said the man came into the bar alone.
“I was the one who called 911,” she said. “I’m bilingual, so they asked me if I would call the police. I was pretty scared. I never want to see something like that again.”
The woman said she didn’t know how many bullets were shot, but the gunfire lasted less than a minute. She said the man fired at police first.
Another employee heard one of the officers say he’d been shot.
“I saw the bullets hitting the wall,” she said. “I squatted and a bullet came through the wall.”
The bar reopened Sunday afternoon, and both employees said customers will return.
Becker said police are dispatched to the bar on a “relatively regular basis.”
In June, five people were stabbed after a fight at the bar. One man died.
Bennett’s armor probably saved his life, Becker said.
“We feel very blessed that the body armor was able to stop the round and that the officer will be OK,” Becker said.
Feb. 22, VonTungeln saved a 13-month-old boy who was choking. Saturday, he will receive a lifesaving award from the police department.