Pubdate: Sat,  7 Jul 2001
Source: Shawnee News-Star (OK)
Copyright: 2001 The Shawnee News-Star
Contact:  http://www.onlineshawnee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/412
Author: Kimberly D Morava
Note: Jamie Jenkins contributed to this report

SHOOTING OF SPARKS MAN CONSIDERED JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE

A state undercover drug agent who shot and killed an armed Sparks man at 
his home Tuesday will not face criminal charges.

Lincoln/Pottawatomie County District Attorney Kay Christiansen has ruled 
the death of Kirk Massie, 48, as justifiable homicide, she said Friday 
afternoon.

Massie was shot and killed by an undercover Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics 
and Dangerous Drugs agent as authorities executed a search warrant for 
methamphetamine at Massie's rural Sparks home.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation launched an immediate 
investigation of the shooting.

Her decision not to press charges resulted from evidence gathered in that 
investigation, she said.

"It was clearly self-defense," Christiansen said.

While the district attorney said the shooting death was unfortunate, she 
also said agents that day faced a scenario agents never want or expect when 
serving search warrants.

When agents entered Massie's home, he was armed with a double-barrel 
shotgun, said OBNDD spokesman Mark Woodward.

Massie was hiding in the bathroom when agents forced the door open and 
ordered Massie to drop his weapon, Woodward said.

The suspect reportedly refused to drop the shotgun and raised the weapon in 
a threatening manner before he was shot several times, the spokesman said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Massie reportedly was holding a plastic bag containing a substance believed 
to be methamphetamine, Woodward said.

After the raid, agents also found cameras and a microphone in the front 
yard of the residence; monitors were reportedly stationed through the house.

Woodward said those items posed a dangerous situation for agents.

Agents also discovered a 20-foot by 20-foot underground concrete bunker 
containing more monitors and a methamphetamine lab, he said.

An in-depth investigation led to the Tuesday delivery of the search 
warrant. The OBNDD reportedly had Massie under surveillance the past two 
years, officials said.

Massie reportedly had prior convictions in Seminole and Lincoln counties. 
He also had served prison time with the Department of Corrections, records 
indicate.

Funeral services for Massie are scheduled today in Chandler.
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