MUSKOGEE, Okla. — Muskogee police shot and killed a man they said pointed a rifle at a code enforcement officer.
Heather Blackwelder heard the gunfire outside her home in the Walnut Creek Neighborhood near Country Club Rd and Augusta Ave.
“That’s when I saw the Muskogee PD out front and their Bearcat with rifles pointed at my neighbor’s house,” said Blackwelder.
Officers responded to the home near 600 Christy Drive after a call about a man pointing a rifle at a code enforcement officer, then going back into his home.
WATCH: Man killed by Muskogee police after pointing gun at code enforcer, MPD says:
Police identified the man as Clayton Bailey, 34. They said code enforcement wanted to talk to him about high grass that needed to be cut.
“Very unusual,” said Devin Cochran. “Very unusual. This neighborhood doesn’t have anything that happens like this.”
Cochran has lived nearby for the last year. He didn’t know Bailey, but said he would’ve helped.
“He could’ve come out and just asked,” said Cochran. “Just ask for some help. It’s what we all need sometimes.”
After police say the suspect pointed a gun at code enforcement, MPD brought in its Special Operations Team.
Police said he came back outside and shot at officers several times. Officers returned fire, killing him.
“I didn’t know what to think,” said Blackwelder. “This kind of thing just doesn’t happen.”
The neighborhood is fairly new, 2 News reported in 2022 when they started building homes there.
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Neighbors said while it’s an unfortunate situation, it doesn’t make them feel less safe.
“I think it was just a very out of the blue situation,” said Blackwelder. “It’s weird for Muskogee. It’s unheard of in this area.”
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