TULSA, Okla. — Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the man accused of shooting and killing a Tulsa police officer.
READ MORE: One Tulsa police officer dies, another in the hospital after shooting
The Tulsa County District Attorney's Office filed paperwork Sept. 17 to pursue the death penalty against David Ware. The records state Ware, "knowingly created a great risk of death" and "the murder of Sgt. Craig Johnson was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest or prosecution."
Ware is accused of shooting Officer Aurash Zarkeshan and Sergeant Craig Johnson during a routine traffic stop in late June. Johnson died, Zarkeshan is recovering.
Recently, Tulsa police released the video from the shooting.
READ MORE: "Just say a prayer for them:" Bynum responds to video of shooting of TPD officers
Ware is charged with murder in the shooting death of Johnson and shooting with intent to kill for Zarkeshan's injuries.
Tulsa County Assistant District Attorney Kevin Gray said after going through evidence and meeting with attorneys and detectives, the office found five aggravating circumstances which could result in the death penalty.
"In this particular case, one of the aggravating factors that is one of the more recent ones approved by the legislature is the death of a policy officer in the line of duty," Gray said.
According to the Bill of Particulars filed calling for the death penalty, the other four aggravating circumstances are:
- Ware knowingly created a great risk of death to more than one person.
- The murder of Sgt. Craig Johnson was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel.
- The murder of Sgt. Craig Johnson was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest or prosecution.
- There exists a probability that Ware would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitute a continuing threat to society.
This is just the eighth time Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler called for the death penalty. The last time a person in Tulsa county received a death sentence was in 2009.
If Ware is convicted, the death penalty decision will be up to a jury which will have to believe the prosecution’s burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
“Even if they find that, 'Yes, we’ve met our burden of proof, we’ve gotten beyond a reasonable doubt,' they can still choose to impose life with the possibility of parole or life without the possibility of parole," Gray said.
The accused getaway driver, Matthew Hall, waived his preliminary hearing and is going to trial. Hall is charged with accessory to murder and accessory to a felony.
The district court arraignments for Ware and Hall are scheduled for Oct. 5.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere --
- Download our free app for Apple, Android and Kindle devices.
- Sign up for daily newsletters emailed to you
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Twitter
