A bystander fatally shot a gunman who opened fire inside an Oklahoma City restaurant Thursday evening, injuring multiple people, police said.
When the gunman left the restaurant and attempted to flee, Mathews said an armed bystander standing outside confronted him, pulled out his handgun and fatally shot him. Both the gunman and the bystander who intervened used handguns in the shootings, Mathews said.
The civilian has not been identified, “but all I know is it was just a Good Samaritan, and it looked like he took the right measures to put an end to the terrible incident,” Mathews said.
Mathews told The Washington Post that the shooting “appears to be a random act,” but it remains under investigation.
Oklahoma police said at 8 p.m. that the victims were undergoing surgery and are expected to survive.
At least two other people were injured in the chaos as people eating dinner inside Louie’s attempted to take cover or run. One man fell as he was fleeing and broke his arm, Mathews said. A fourth person sustained a “minor injury,” but it was unclear how, police said.
⚠️ ALERT: The only confirmed fatality is the suspect. He was apparently shot-to-death by an armed citizen. Three citizens were injured, two of whom were shot. A large number of witnesses are detained. There is no indication of terrorismat this point.
— Oklahoma City Police (@OKCPD) May 25, 2018
The shooter’s motive is unclear at this point.
“We do not know why this individual came into this business and started this,” Mathews told a reporter. “It’d be a shock to anybody sitting down with their family trying to eat.”
The scene remained under investigation late Thursday.