A 74-year-old man was shot and killed near Wellston on Sunday by law enforcement responding to a 911 call that he was threatening suicide.
The man was identified by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) as Steven Pence. He was a retired deputy from the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office. The LCSO previously made contact with Pence on Jan. 21, according to Sheriff Kevin Garrett.
“It’s always sad when we’re in these situations where somebody gets shot and killed, or we get shot and hurt too, or killed.
“And it’s unfortunate that these calls, this can happen anytime, any day. We get mental health calls all the time,” Garrett said.
He added that Wellston and the Kickapoo tribe had officers out at the house about 20 minutes before his deputies arrived.
“They’re talking to him, trying to de-escalate it, and it didn’t work that way,” he said.
On Feb. 8, Pence’s wife called at around 2:43 p.m., reporting that he was armed, threatening suicide and had a history of suicidal ideation. Their daughter and young granddaughter were also in the house at one point with her and Pence, who was reportedly waving a gun around.
According to Garrett, dispatchers were speaking to the wife and daughter, attempting to get them to leave the area. The daughter and granddaughter eventually left, but the wife refused, saying this happened with her son in the past. She also told dispatchers that the event stemmed from an internet scam and that Pence believed he was sending money to a celebrity who was in love with him.
At around 3:03 p.m., officers said Pence still had his weapon and wasn’t responding to commands. He had moved to the backyard, while his wife remained in the house. Two troopers arrived at 3:16 p.m. with shots fired at 3:17 p.m. after he pointed the gun at law enforcement, and an EMS was en route.
Garrett said that before the shooting, officers used bean bag rounds to attempt to disarm Pence. He said the two troopers and a Lincoln County deputy are on paid suspended leave until an investigation into the shooting is complete.