Jury finds man guilty of murder in shooting of Tulsa police

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – A man whose attorney said he fatally shot a Tulsa police sergeant and wounded another because he feared for his life during a traffic stop has been convicted of murder.

A Tulsa County jury deliberated about three hours Friday before convicting 34-year-old David Anthony Ware in the death of Sgt. Craig Johnson and wounding of Officer Aurash Zarkeshan.

Ware faces a possible death sentence when that phase of the trial begins Monday.

In closing arguments, Ware’s attorney argued that Ware feared for his life because police beat, kicked, pepper-sprayed and shot him with a stun gun during a June 2020 traffic stop.

However, prosecutor Kevin Gray said Ware brought the violence on himself by refusing to comply with officers’ instructions.