Oklahoma City, OK — A horrifying attack unfolded in broad daylight on July 2 outside the Oklahoma City Police Department headquarters when a man in a wheelchair was deliberately targeted with a lit Molotov cocktail and then shoved into the flames as he tried to escape.
Police released graphic surveillance footage this week showing the brazen assault near West Main Street and North Lee Avenue in downtown Oklahoma City. The video captures the suspect approaching the victim, igniting the incendiary device, and throwing it directly at the man, setting him and the ground ablaze.
As the victim in the wheelchair desperately tried to wheel himself out of the fire, the attacker ran forward and pushed him back toward the flames in an apparent attempt to ensure further harm.
Two Oklahoma City detectives who happened to be in a vehicle at the intersection immediately intervened, taking the suspect into custody at the scene. A quick-thinking bystander also rushed in to help drag the victim to safety. The Oklahoma City Fire Department arrived shortly after to provide medical aid.
The victim suffered minor burns to the back of his neck and arms but is expected to recover fully, authorities said. Thanks to the rapid actions of law enforcement and the good Samaritan, what could have been a deadly attack was stopped in its tracks.
The suspect has been identified as 38-year-old Alexander Emery. According to a police court affidavit, Emery told investigators he was “looking for marks” and believed the victim was a child molester, a claim that allegedly motivated the attack. He admitted to preparing two Molotov cocktails but only used one before detectives stopped him.
Emery was arrested on the spot and booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center on multiple serious charges, including:
First-degree arson
Assault with intent to kill
Assault and battery with a deadly weapon
Possessing, using, manufacturing, or threatening to use an incendiary device or explosives (multiple counts)
He has not yet been formally charged in court.
The release of the traffic camera footage has drawn widespread attention and condemnation. The video, described as disturbing and graphic by police, shows the cold-blooded nature of the assault right across from police headquarters, a location that should represent safety and order.
Oklahoma City police praised the heroic response from both officers and the bystander, noting that their quick thinking likely saved the victim’s life.
This disturbing incident highlights the random and vicious violence that can erupt in any community. With the suspect now behind bars facing serious felony charges, authorities continue to investigate the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
