Attorney: Man who shot OK officers feared for his life

David Ware is led to a courtroom by Tulsa County Sheriff’s deputies at the Tulsa County Courthouse for his trial in the shootings of Tulsa Police Officer …

David Ware is led to a courtroom by Tulsa County Sheriff’s deputies at the Tulsa County Courthouse for his trial in the shootings of Tulsa Police Officer Aurash Zarkeshan and Sgt. Craig Johnson, Monday, April 18, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. Johnson died from the shooting. (Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP)

by: Associated Press

Posted: Apr 19, 2022 / 12:27 PM CDT

Updated: Apr 19, 2022 / 03:03 PM CDT

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Correction: The lead sentence has been corrected for clarification.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The attorney for an Oklahoma man on trial for shooting two Tulsa police officers, killing one of them, said his client feared for his life after a traffic stop.

Attorney Kevin Adams said Monday during opening statements that 34-year-old David Anthony Ware shot at the officers after being beaten, kicked, pepper sprayed and shot with a stun gun.

Ware is facing a possible death sentence for the killing of Tulsa Police Sgt. Craig Johnson.

He’s also charged with wounding a second officer, Aurash Zarkeshan, following a traffic stop on June 29, 2020.

Prosecutors say Ware escalated the situation by refusing to follow officers’ commands.