The incident began when Norman police officers were patrolling the area of Alameda Street and 12th Avenue SE, searching for 49-year-old James Wesley Morrison. Morrison was wanted in connection with a domestic disturbance involving injury and was also facing a felony warrant for possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction.
At approximately 8:42 p.m., officers spotted a vehicle and a man matching Morrison’s description in the 1600 block of Alameda Street. When they attempted to initiate a traffic stop to confirm his identity, the vehicle initially stopped but quickly sped away, leading officers on a high-speed chase. The pursuit continued eastbound on Alameda Street, southbound on 24th Avenue SE, and eventually eastbound on State Highway 9.
Morrison drove recklessly at high speeds, at times entering lanes of oncoming traffic. Officers attempted multiple Tactical Vehicle Interventions (TVIs) to stop the vehicle, one of which temporarily halted it near the intersection of 60th Avenue SE and State Highway 9. However, Morrison continued his attempts to escape, even colliding with a patrol vehicle in the process. During this encounter, an officer’s shot grazed a female passenger in the vehicle.
The chase resumed south on 60th Avenue SE, where another TVI finally disabled Morrison’s vehicle. As officers approached, Morrison exited the vehicle armed with a firearm. He pointed the weapon at officers and fired. Four officers—Master Police Officer Brian Browning, Master Police Officer Aaron Deese, Master Police Officer Jonatan Kieft, and Sgt. Michael Lauderback—returned fire, fatally wounding Morrison. Officers and medical personnel immediately rendered aid, but Morrison succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Two other individuals were in the vehicle with Morrison: a 61-year-old female who was treated for her injuries and released, and a 30-year-old male who was uninjured. Authorities confirmed that these individuals had no criminal involvement in the incident.
The investigation revealed that Morrison had outstanding warrants for possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction and driving with a suspended license. Family members informed investigators that Morrison had previously stated he would not return to prison and that law enforcement would have to shoot him if they attempted to arrest him.
The four officers involved in the shooting have been placed on routine administrative assignment pending the outcome of the investigation. The Norman Police Department is committed to conducting a thorough review to ensure all protocols were followed during this high-stakes encounter.
