Criminal Justice
‘Congenial’ and ‘reasonable’ judge tells police he doesn’t remember alleged shooting spree
Oklahoma police have alleged that Judge Brian Lovell, 58, fired at parked cars and twice rear-ended a vehicle less than 2 miles away. Image from Shutterstock.
A judge in Garfield County, Oklahoma, has stopped hearing cases after his arrest in an alleged shooting spree and road-rage incident in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 11.
Police allege that Judge Brian Lovell, 58, fired at parked cars and twice rear-ended a vehicle less than 2 miles away.
The Oklahoman (via Yahoo News), the Associated Press, KFOR, USA Today, Law & Crime and the Messenger have coverage.
Stephen Jones, a defense lawyer who has appeared before Lovell, told the Oklahoman that Lovell is a respected judge.
“He is always congenial, reasonable. He is not a stuffed shirt,” Jones said.
Paul Woodward, the presiding administrative judge for the Garfield County, Oklahoma, district, told the Oklahoman that Lovell has “been a good friend and colleague for years. It’s hard for me to believe any of this.”
Police investigated after a caller said the driver of a white SUV had fired five times while driving down the street. Several parked vehicles had bullet holes.
Police were still on the scene when they got a call about the rear-ended driver. She told police that Lovell struck her car twice, and the second time, he continued to apply pressure to her vehicle. She kept her foot on the brake to avoid being pushed into cross traffic at an intersection.
Police found two handguns in Lovell’s car. According to an affidavit, “Lovell advised he did not know why he would have shot his gun and he could not recall any part of the shooting incident.”
Lovell acknowledged twice rear-ending the other car and said the driver had cut him off, the affidavit said. But he did not acknowledge that the collision was intentional.
Lovell was ordered to undergo a mental health exam. He was released on a $10,000 bond.
A woman who answered the phone and identified herself as Lovell’s wife said the family had “zero comment,” according to the AP.
