Oklahoma City police said the victim, who uses a wheelchair, suffered minor injuries and is expected to recover.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — A man was arrested after police said he threw a Molotov cocktail at a man using a wheelchair outside Oklahoma City Police Department headquarters on July 2, setting the victim on fire before nearby people helped pull him away.
The attack drew wide attention after police released surveillance video showing the assault near the department’s headquarters. Investigators identified the suspect as Alexander Emery and said he admitted choosing the victim at random. The victim was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, police said, and is expected to recover.
The video shows a man approach the victim outside police headquarters, throw a lit incendiary device and move close as flames spread around the wheelchair. Oklahoma City police described the recording as “disturbing” as it circulated through local and national reports. Officers and a bystander rushed in moments later, pulled the victim away from the flames and helped put out the fire. Police have not released the victim’s name or age. They also have not said whether the two men knew each other before the attack.
Authorities said Emery was taken into custody after the attack and faces multiple felony charges. Reported charges include assault with intent to kill, assault and battery with a deadly weapon and arson. Police said the investigation remains active. It was not immediately clear from the available reports whether Emery had an attorney, when he was booked into jail or when his first court appearance was scheduled. Officials also had not released a detailed account of how the device was made or where it came from.
The location added to the public attention around the case. The attack happened outside Oklahoma City police headquarters, where surveillance cameras captured the incident and officers were close enough to respond quickly. Video shows the victim engulfed in flames for a short time before help arrived. Police said the victim was treated at a hospital and was expected to survive. No other injuries were reported in the available accounts.
Investigators said Emery admitted he randomly selected the victim, but police had not announced a motive beyond that statement. The attack does not appear in available reports to have been tied to a protest, a broader threat or a known dispute. Officials did not release details about any search warrants, interviews with witnesses or possible evidence recovered after the arrest. The police department’s release of the video placed the case into public view while prosecutors weighed the felony allegations.
The next steps are expected to move through the local court system as investigators finish reports and prosecutors review the charges. Police said the case remains under investigation, which could leave room for amended charges or additional evidence. No hearing date was listed in the available public reports. The victim’s recovery and Emery’s first formal court proceedings are the main milestones still pending.
For now, police say the victim is expected to recover, Emery is in custody and the case remains under investigation as of July 9.
Author note: Last updated July 9, 2026.