A man with a handgun started shooting at restaurant patrons of Louie’s Bar and Grill in Oklahoma City around 6:30 on the evening of Thursday, May 24. He stood outside the door of the building as he started firing at people in the restaurant. According to NPR, four people were injured in the attack, and two of these four people were under the age of 18. The gunman was killed by two men when he attempted to leave the scene of the crime. So far, investigators are unsure why this man targeted Louie’s Bar and Grill.

Oklahoma shooter confronted by armed bystanders outside of restaurant

Two other men witnessed the shooting as they were walking toward the restaurant. When they saw the shooter, they both returned to their individual vehicles to get their own weapons. When the criminal turned to flee the restaurant, he was confronted by the two other men who had returned with handguns of their own. The shooter was confirmed to be 28-year-old Alexander Tilghman, and he was killed by the two witnesses. They shot him while he was trying to leave the restaurant.

In an article by National Public Radio, police captain Bo Mathews verified that all three men involved were using handguns. The article also says that Mathews stated “I consider them two people who stopped an incident that was very tragic.” No further information was provided by the police, but the armed citizen’s heroic act sparked a conversation about gun rights in Oklahoma.

The NRA praises armed citizens for saving lives in Oklahoma City

The National Rifle Association commended the two men (Carlos Nazario, 35, and Bryan Wittle, 39) who shot the gunman down. The Association tweeted “Just another example of how the best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” The NRA called this situation a “wake-up call” to Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin.

The governor recently vetoed a constitutional carry bill that would give adults the right to carry without a permit or training.

Some other states have already passed similar gun laws, but the governor of Oklahoma has shared her own reason for denying it in her state.

Governor Mary Fallin stated, “The firearms laws we currently have in place are effective, appropriate and minimal, and serve to reassure our citizens that people who are carrying handguns in this state are qualified to do so." Although many Oklahoma officials agreed to pass the new law, the state bill was denied.
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