Footage shows slain OCCC student’s previous run-in with campus security
MARK SMITH
Senior Writer
seniorwriter@occc.edu
Slain student Thyler Payne’s life on campus was marred by an incident back in May that led to the death of his dog.
Payne, 19, was found murdered in his car Oct. 11 near the intersection of SW 119 Street and Meridian.
While covering that story, it was discovered Payne was involved in the earlier incident.
A report obtained through an open records request shows Payne’s dog was shot by a campus safety and security officer after the dog lunged at the officer.
The shooting occurred May 15 on the north side of the Keith Leftwich Memorial Library.
Earlier that afternoon, library staff reported the pit bull terrier roaming outside the library.
Safety and Security Officer Brandon Wheeler said in his report that library patrons would not leave the library out of fear of the animal.
When Safety and Security Officer Clifford Evans and Wheeler arrived at the library, Wheeler said, they witnessed Payne leaving with the dog following beside him.
When Wheeler tried to approach Payne, the dog attacked him, Wheeler said in his report.
In video footage of the incident posted at the Pioneer Online, it appears the dog attacks Wheeler.
Wheeler said attempts to defend himself physically from the dog’s attack were futile.
“Out of fear for my own life, I drew my service weapon and discharged two shots into the dog stopping the attack,” he said in a report.
During the attack, Wheeler said, Payne didn’t make any attempt to call off the dog or restrain the dog in any way.
Oklahoma City police were called to the scene, as were Animal Welfare officers, the report shows.
Oklahoma City Police Department crime reports show that Payne was given a citation for harboring a vicious animal.
Oklahoma City Municipal Court records show Payne was fined $564 for the violation.
Payne was an OCCC student last spring and this fall, up until the time of his death.
For more information on Payne’s death, visit the Pioneer Online at www.occc.edu/pioneer.
