Just-released police footage from a December 18 of 2018 altercation shows just how quickly a police officer may have to react when surprised with a gun.
This video was shot in Noble, Oklahoma, during a traffic stop conducted by Sgt. Joshua Lester. The suspect, 37-year-old Layland Lewis Jr. of Norman, OK, pulled into a driveway, exited his vehicle, and initially complied with the officer before suddenly spinning around and pointing a gun straight into Sgt. Lester’s face.
With impressive reflexes, Lester was able to deflect the handgun and shoot the suspect three times. The suspect survived and is now facing felony charges.
Here’s the body camera as well as the dash camera footage that was just released (warning: graphic and NSFW):
Also for the record, here is the full 8-minute dashcam video released by Video Leak Police (the shooting takes place at about the 6:35 mark).
The officer was clearly noticed the perp moving his hands to his jacket. That level of alertness may very well have saved his life.