close
close

Man killed in confrontation with Tulsa police identified

Man killed in confrontation with Tulsa police identified

Tulsa police identified the man killed during a confrontation with officers on Jan. 17.

According to the Police, Gerardo Almazán, 38, was shot to death after aggressively approaching the officers with a gun in his hand.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Officers say the shooting occurred after the man finally left the home with a woman by his side and a gun.

Tulsa police say a 14-year-old boy who lived at the home called 911 saying the man robbed him at gunpoint and took his phone.

The teen then called from a nearby gas station and said the man had pointed a gun at him.

Officers say the man returned to the home and refused to come out, even after hours of officers trying to get him out.

“At one point, he walks out the back door, ignores commands again, makes some profane gestures at the officers and stays inside,” said Capt. Richard Meulenberg of Tulsa police. “Here we have someone who is definitely under arrest, for pointing a deadly weapon, pointing a gun.”

Officers say the man later came out with the woman and a gun and was aggressive toward the officers and that’s when they shot and killed him.

“He leaves the house with this person,” Meulenberg said. “There is a woman who lives in the house with him. He had a gun in his hand. He starts attacking the officers and then we had to intervene at that moment and his actions forced the officers to shoot him. I know he came out, he didn’t follow the instructions. orders. He has had every opportunity, all day, to follow orders, he decides, knowing full well that law enforcement officers are all over the front of his yard. I have the MRAP. In his front yard, he comes out with a gun in his hand. the hand.”

Meulenberg is grateful that everyone in the neighborhood was patient during the shooting.

HOW DO THE POLICE RESPOND TO THESE SITUATIONS?

Meulenberg says it’s a waiting game, but officers make sure the person inside knows the officers won’t leave until they come out.

“We’re not rushing home,” Meulenberg said. “We’ll stay here and we’ll stay here through the rain, through everything and we’ll call them. What we’ll use are things to carry a window, break a window. We use things like flexible batons. What we want to do is make sure we call your pay attention so they know that we are not going to leave.

WAS ANYONE HURT?

Tulsa police say no officers were injured in the shooting.

Officers also say both the teen who made the initial call and the woman who was out with the man were not injured.

WHAT’S THE MAN’S NAME?

Tulsa police identified the suspect as 38-year-old Gerardo Almazán.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The officers involved will be placed on administrative leave during internal and criminal investigations, which is standard in officer-involved shootings.

Once the investigation is complete, the case will be presented to the Tulsa County District Attorney, who will decide whether charges will be filed.

TULSA POLICE SUMMARY STATEMENT

SUMMARY:

Today we posted about a standoff in north Tulsa with an armed and barricaded suspect. The suspect continued to ignore officers’ commands and left the home with a gun, escalating the situation and forcing officers to intervene. The suspect was shot and pronounced dead at the scene.

FULL DETAILS:

On 01/17/2025 at 10:14 am, officers were called to a home near Marshall Street and Joplin Avenue in reference to an armed robbery, simultaneously we received a call from the QT at 500 North Sheridan regarding a shooting with a deadly weapon.

It turns out the calls were related.

The suspect had allegedly pulled out and pointed a semi-automatic handgun at a 14-year-old male who lives at the home we were originally called to.

The suspect returned to the home near Marshall and Joplin and entered the home with a woman. When officers ordered the suspect to leave the home, he refused. Additional officers responded to the scene and secured the residence.

Based on the crime that took place that morning, officers obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect.

We began making announcements, in both English and Spanish, ordering the suspect to leave the house and surrender to the police.

For several hours we continued giving orders. At times, the suspect would approach the door, open it and close it. He also made gestures from the windows towards the officers.

Our Special Operations Team was activated and responded to the scene. At around 2:30 p.m., we placed our armored vehicle in front of the house and continued giving instructions to the suspect.

Around 4:00 p.m., knowing that officers were in the front yard and surrounding the residence, the suspect left the home with the woman. The suspect held a gun in his hand as he walked toward the officers.

The suspect’s actions forced officers to intervene. The officers shot at the suspect and hit him as they approached to protect the woman. Immediately after securing the suspect’s gun, police medics approached and began providing first aid. Unfortunately, the suspect died at the scene.

Crime scene is processing the scene and collecting all the evidence.

The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, as is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.