Man in custody after taking handgun to Choctaw football practice

Choctaw High School was briefly put on lockdown Tuesday afternoon after a man with a firearm showed up to football practice.

A short time later, 20-year-old Latrell Donyell Mensah, of Midwest City, and a juvenile female were under arrest for charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a weapon on school grounds.

Latrell Mensah

“Coaches were greeting football players as they arrived for practice. They noticed a young man that did not look familiar,” said Choctaw Police Chief Kelly Marshall.

Coaches say his answers were not consistent, and he was asking for someone that was unknown to Yellowjacket staff.

“As he was talking, Mensah made motions towards his waist. As Mensah began to leave a coach noticed what he thought was a gun in the waistband of Mensah’s pants,” said Marshall.

The CHS coaches contacted law enforcement and locked down the facility. Choctaw police officers quickly responded and apprehended Mensah.

“The coaches were able to give a good physical description of the suspect, vehicle and direction of travel,” reported Marshall.

A traffic stop was performed near NE 10th and Hickman, and Mensah pulled into the parking lot of Nicoma Park Elementary School.

Mensah was questioned, and he provided a false statement as to why he was on the high school campus, according to police.

Police say Mensah did not have a weapon on him at the time of the traffic stop, but a juvenile female passenger was concealing a Glock 9mm handgun in the waistband of her shorts.

“It is believed Mensah gave the gun to her to hold,” said Marshall.

The female will be charged through juvenile court, while Mensah was booked into the Oklahoma County jail on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, unlawful carry in certain places, possession of a controlled substance and driving with a canceled, suspended or revoked license.

His bond was set at $22,500.

“CHS football coaches were the real heroes of today’s events. Several coaches remained outside the locker room greeting students as they arrived for practice which is a normal routine. As an unfamiliar person approached the locker room, a coach intervened and got the person diverted, called 911, and stayed on the phone providing details to police until the person was apprehended. We are all grateful these coaches placed themselves in harm’s way in order to protect the students,” said Choctaw-Nicoma Park Superintendent David Reid. “CNP Schools teach the GOLD Standard, and these coaches displayed this and more in a very intense situation. We would also like to thank the resource officers in the CNP District and the Choctaw PD for their quick response. They are committed to a partnership with the school district to provide safe and secure campuses. Their presence is invaluable.”