Video: Suspect Slashes Okla. Officer's Face with Broken Bottle
Newly released body camera video of an attack on an Oklahoma officer that illustrates a recent rash of incidents against police.
A video from March 18 captured an Oklahoma City police officer trying to approach Christopher McPheeters, 32, who had been accused by others of throwing something at another police cruiser, KWTV-TV reports. When the officer got out of his vehicle, McPheeters fled on foot, with the officer in pursuit.
The officer caught up with McPheeters, who pulled out the bottom of a glass bottle and slashed the officer's face repeatedly.
"He almost lost his eye; he could have been killed," Police Chief Wade Gourley said. "When Mr. McPheeters was interviewed, he stated that his intent was to kill the officer."
The violent altercation came days after a gunfight between police and a suspect left an officer with a wounded leg and gunpowder burns from bullets flying by his face. Since 2020, there has been a 60% increase in officers killed by suspects nationally, according to the FBI, a trend that Oklahoma City police leaders also have seen.
"We've had several officers that have been assaulted over the last year," Gourley said. "Our officers are having to deal with a live variety of very difficult situations."