Oklahoma City sex offender who shot himself when police arrived dies in hospital

10-7-2010 Oklahoma:

A registered sex offender who shot himself in the face when officers arrived at his south Oklahoma City home Tuesday died this afternoon.

Larry Dale Kirby, 43, was wanted for questioning in connection with the kidnapping and sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl. Kirby died at OU Medical Center about 5 p.m. today, Oklahoma City police Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow said.

Detectives went to Kirby's home at 3500 S Harvey Ave. about 2 p.m. Tuesday to talk to him about the kidnapping and assault reported Sept. 29 in the area of SW 59 and Blackwelder Avenue, Oklahoma City police Capt. Patrick Stewart said.

At the time of his death today, Kirby was being held at the hospital under an out-of-custody arrest on a complaint of failure to register as a sex offender.

No complaints were filed in connection with the Sept. 29 incident and detectives have not uncovered any evidence linking him to the crime, Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow said.

"Our detectives were following an investigative lead that led them to believe he was possibly the suspect in the attack," Stewart said.

Oklahoma City school officials issued warnings to patrons last week with specifics about the attack and urged parents to not let children walk to and from school by themselves.

The girl, a Jefferson Middle School student, told police a man approached her from behind about 7:45 a.m. Sept. 29, put a gun to her head and threatened to kill her if she screamed. He drove her around for about a half-hour before sexually assaulting her, police said.

Police officers entered Kirby's home Tuesday and he was behind a locked door, Stewart said. Police were about to open the door when they heard a gunshot, Stewart said.

Kirby was convicted in Oklahoma County in 1985 for second-degree burglary, in 1990 for sale of an alcoholic beverage to a minor and in 1998 for lewd proposals to or acts with a child under 16. Records show he was convicted of methamphetamine possession in 2005.

He served about two and half years in prison. ..Source.. by ROBERT MEDLEY Oklahoman