Police said Brenda Deer, 45, fired toward officers before one officer returned fire.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — A 45-year-old woman was shot and killed early Wednesday after Oklahoma City police said she fired at officers during a standoff at a southwest Oklahoma City apartment complex.
Police identified the woman as Brenda Deer. Officers were called Tuesday night to an apartment area near Southwest 60th Street and McKinley Avenue after reports that a woman was firing a gun inside her apartment. The response turned into an hourslong standoff involving patrol officers and the department’s tactical team.
Police said officers first tried to get Deer to leave the apartment, but she did not come out. Neighbors in the surrounding area were moved away from the scene as officers worked to keep nearby residents out of the line of gunfire. An Oklahoma City police spokesperson said officers evacuated people because Deer continued firing rounds inside the apartment.
The tactical unit was called after the first officers could not resolve the situation. Police said negotiators spent several hours trying to speak with Deer. Around 1 a.m. Wednesday, police said she fired several shots out of an apartment window toward officers outside. One officer then returned fire, striking Deer. She died at the scene.
No officers or bystanders were reported hurt. Police have not released the name of the officer who fired the fatal shot. The officer was placed on administrative leave while the shooting is investigated, which is standard after an officer-involved shooting.
Officials have not said what led to the first gunfire call, whether Deer lived alone or how many people were moved from nearby apartments. Police also have not released body camera footage, 911 audio or a full incident report. The case remains under investigation by Oklahoma City police.
The shooting began as a call about gunfire in an apartment and ended several hours later with a fatal police shooting. The next key step is the department’s review of the officer’s use of force and any evidence collected from the apartment scene.
Author note: Last updated May 21, 2026.