Seven months after Tulsa police shot and killed 33-year-old Michael Glunt, a report from the medical examiner’s office shows he was shot nine times — six times more than police originally said.
Glunt’s family says they called police Feb. 8 for help. They say he had autism, was experiencing a mental health crisis and had a gun.
Police say Officer Ryan Broostin found Glunt near 51st and Sheridan. They say he shot at Broostin twice, and Broostin returned fire. Glunt died on the way to the hospital, according to TPD spokesman Capt. Richard Meulenberg.
Broostin was temporarily placed on leave while the shooting was under investigation. He has since returned to duty after the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office called the shooting justified in April.
In an interview with The Eagle later in February, Meulenberg said, “I think (Glunt) was shot three times.” Neither Broostin’s body camera nor his dashboard camera recorded the shooting, but a colleague’s body camera captured him making similar comments on the scene. He can be heard saying, “I shot him at least three times I think.”
The Eagle reviewed the medical examiner’s report Monday after it was provided by Glunt’s sister Karmen. We reached out to Meulenberg for comment on the findings, which differed from his original statement.
Meulenberg said he had not yet reviewed the report but wouldn’t be able to comment “until we are through with any litigation.” The Glunt family has not yet filed suit but is considering its legal options.
Every Sunday since Feb. 8, Karmen Glunt visits the spot where her brother was shot to clean up litter and replace his flowers. Along with her mom and a few other folks, they hold signs to remind people passing by about what happened.
“TPD killed my autistic son,” one sign read. “He needed help, not bullets,” said another.
For Karmen Glunt, the revelation has been a tough one.
“We had no idea my brother was shot so many times,” she said. “We constantly have to reimagine his suffering or the last moments of his life and re-understand his death. It’s been kind of brutal … to constantly grieve the way we lost him in new ways.”
She said at the very least, she doesn’t think Broostin should still be on duty.
“I don’t think that police officer should still be an officer,” she told The Eagle. “And I think there needs to be better accountability towards policy and process.”
Karmen Glunt said she later ran into Broostin while he was searching someone else’s car.
“It just left my mouth, but I did call him a killer,” she said about the encounter. “I can’t describe the feelings of seeing the person that killed my brother on duty. It feels wrong, and to know he told the arriving officers that he shot three times when he shot so many more.”
She said she hasn’t talked to the mayor or incoming police chief, but if she could, her message would be simple.
“Tulsa deserves better. Tulsa deserves better policing,” she said. “Tulsa deserves better accountability and transparency … The goal is to be the safest city, but we can’t be, whenever we’re also in danger from the people that are supposed to keep us safe.”
