He allegedly killed another fugitive and wounded an Oklahoma County sheriff’s deputy
The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A fugitive who died during a shootout with law officers at a busy south-side intersection had been released from jail despite pending felony charges against him.
Michael Leon Barnett allegedly shot William Elmer Harris to death and wounded Oklahoma County sheriff’s deputy Curtis Back before deputies and U.S. marshals killed him Thursday afternoon.
Members of the Metro Fugitive Task Force were trying to arrest Barnett, 28, on five warrants when the shooting began about 3:45 p.m., police said.
As law enforcement vehicles surrounded the pickup truck Harris was driving, Barnett shot Harris in the head before turning his weapon on the officers, police said.
Back was nicked in the left ear, officials said. He was released from the hospital.
Barnett was charged with four drug-related counts, two assault counts and three other counts. The charges stemmed from five incidents in 2002.
Oklahoma County District Judge Susan Bragg denied Barnett bail in January 2003, agreeing with prosecutors that Barnett posed ``a serious risk’’ of not showing up for court and endangering others.
In October, she released him on $25,000 bond with the requirement that he participate in the conditional release program, records show.
The change occurred partly because some charges against Barnett had been dismissed or amended.
But after his release, he failed to show up in court in each of his pending cases. Four bench warrants were issued in December and another in January.
It was those warrants the task force was trying to enforce.