A Tulsa traffic stop turned deadly two years ago when John Terry Chatman Jr., 35, opened fire from inside a mini-van, wounding Sgt. Mike Parsons. Today, Chatman was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for the ambush-style attack that could have killed the officer.
U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan handed down the sentence after a January jury conviction on three federal counts: being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, obstruction of justice by attempting to kill a witness, and carrying, using, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The shooting occurred on July 3, 2018, at a Quik Trip parking lot in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Body camera footage from the scene shows officers initially approaching Chatman after spotting a mismatched license plate on his van. Chatman refused to identify himself, questioned police jurisdiction, and refused to exit the vehicle. When Sgt. Parsons arrived and ordered him out, warning he would deploy PepperBalls, Chatman drew a .32 caliber revolver and fired — striking Parsons in the leg.
A bullet meant for the officer’s torso was deflected by a challenge coin in Parsons’ pocket — likely saving his life. The projectile could have shattered his femur or severed a major artery, prosecutors said. An officer at the scene returned fire, and Chatman was taken into custody. Four spent casings and two live rounds were found in the revolver at the scene.
“If you shoot a police officer, then you will go to prison for a long time. Plain and simple. John Chatman learned that lesson today,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “He endangered not just officers but innocent civilians in a crowded parking lot on the eve of Independence Day.” Shores emphasized the deterrent message of the prosecution.
Chatman, already a convicted felon, remains in U.S. Marshals custody pending transfer to a federal Bureau of Prisons facility. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department and prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Trent Shores, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allen Litchfield and Mark Morgan.
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Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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