Transient Man Sentenced for Three Counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon

TULSA, Okla. – A transient man was sentenced today for three counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Christian Douglas Cook, 36, to serve 120 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.

According to court documents, in October 2022, the victim was walking his dog outside a hotel when Cook approached him. Court records show that Cook appeared to be under the influence and struck the victim on the hand with a bottle for no reason, causing him to bleed. The hotel manager witnessed the incident. The victim returned to his hotel room, grabbed a baseball bat, and confronted Cook. Cook produced a knife and lunged at the victim and his girlfriend. Both told responding officers that they believed Cook was trying to stab them.

Police arrested Cook and transported him to the hospital for medical treatment. Cook made continuous threatening comments about killing the victim once released from jail. He also referred to the victim's race in a derogatory manner. Officers noted that Cook threatened to head butt the police officers and “take that charge.” He further stated that he stabs people and gets away with it.

In February 2023, during a second assault, Cook went into a bar, causing trouble, and was asked to leave the property. Instead of leaving, Cook pulled a knife from his backpack and approached a customer. That customer hit Cook’s arm, causing Cook to release the knife. Cook then pulled a second knife and stabbed another customer in the right shoulder blade. Cook called 911, stating he had injuries from stabbing the victim. Court records show that while being booked at the jail, Cook said to officers, “Do you know the stand my ground law? I should have killed all of them. I have done it before and gotten away with it.”

During a third assault in December 2023, the victim was in the parking lot of his girlfriend's apartment. Cook approached the car and began banging on the windows, asking for money or cigarettes. The victim stepped out of the car, and Cook started to hit the victim in the head several times. The victim realized he was bleeding and drove himself to the hospital. At the hospital, the victim learned that he was stabbed multiple times throughout his body, including the head, neck, back and upper torso. The victim and his girlfriend identified Cook in a photo lineup. When Tulsa Police officers found and arrested Cook, he possessed several knives.

Cook is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Dunn and Emily Dewhurst prosecuted the case.