Oklahoma man shot by police mistaken for Missouri escapee

SALLISAW, Okla. (AP) – Authorities say a knife-wielding Oklahoma man who was fatally shot by police had been reported as a possible escapee from a Missouri jail.

An Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation says it’s investigating after 27-year-old Shawn Taylor Watie of Stilwell was shot by two officers Thursday when he “came after” them with a knife and died later at a hospital.

OSBI spokeswoman Brook Arbeitman says the officers were investigating reports of a suspicious man walking on Highway 59 who matched the description of the Missouri escapee.

Watie’s brother-in-law, Jerod Neal, told KFSM-TV that Watie was walking to work when he was shot and he doesn’t believe the police account.

Neal said Watie was not combative, would run away from fights and that he would never chase officers pointing guns at him.