Last week, we brought you the story of a man who killed himself after being charged with first-degree manslaughter in an Oklahoma DUI wreck.
Now, an Oklahoma City sex offender has died after shooting himself when detectives arrived at his door. Police investigating the kidnapping and sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl wanted to question Larry Dale Kirby, 43, about his possible involvement in the crime.
When officers arrived, Kirby was behind a locked door in the home. Just as they were about to open the door, they heard a gunshot. Kirby had shot himself in the face and died the next day at a local hospital.
Oklahoma City police say they have no evidence linking Kirby to the crime, and were only there to follow up on a lead about the attack.
In the case, the victim told police that she was walking to school at Jefferson Middle School in Oklahoma City at about 7:45 a.m. when a man approached her from behind. The girl told investigators that the assailant put a gun to her head and ordered her into a car. She claims he drove her around for about half an hour before sexually assaulting her.
Kirby had a criminal record with convictions for second degree burglary, selling alcohol to a minor, and methamphetamine possession. He was required to register as an Oklahoma sex offender after his 1998 conviction of lewd acts with a minor in Oklahoma County.
Unfortunately, as a registered sex offender, Kirby saw no alternative but to end his own life when he was wanted for questioning in connection with another Oklahoma child molestation.
However, there are always legal options. Kirby had not been arrested or charged, and police did not even have a warrant for his arrest. Individuals who are questioned by police always have the right to have a defense lawyer present to ensure that their rights are protected during all stages of the case.