October 21, 2016
By Paul Joseph, News Director
A man, thought to be from Alabama, is in critical condition in an Oklahoma City hospital following an attempted car-jacking early Monday morning in Sayre.
The victim, described as a large man possibly in his 50’s or 60’s was air transported to an Oklahoma City hospital a little before 2:30 am shooting in the parking lot of the Flying J convenience area on Interstate 40. The victim, whose identity hasn’t been released but was driving a vehicle with Alabama tags, was shot in the leg.
According to an eyewitness, he awoke when he heard one or more shots fired near his camper and then ran out barefooted when he heard a man screaming for help. There, he found the victim lying near the doorway of the victim’s RV, bleeding and hollering for help.
The witness, Rudy Montez of Arizona, a transporter of RVs who was staying the night in the parking lot, never saw the suspect.
Other witness testimony at the scene led law enforcement to believe that the suspect could be 38-year-old Michael D. Vance of Chandler, OK, the man allegedly involved in last night’s shooting of two Wellston, OK, police officers and two other deaths reportedly at his uncle’s home in Luther, Oklahoma. All together five people were been shot.
The Lincoln County Sheriff said last night he believed Vance was shot at least twice, but authorities don’t know the extent of his injuries.
Vance is 5-feet, 10 or 11-inches tall and weighing 185 to 210 pounds.
Vance was recently released from the Lincoln County jail after being arrested on child sexual assault charges according to KOKH-TV who spoke with the Lincoln County Sheriff.
Vance was charged in Lincoln County with rape by instrumentation, forcible oral sodomy and lewd acts with a 15-year-old minor back in June. The victim reported the attack to a family member who called authorities. Vance is due in court on the charges next week.
Records also show that Vance has been arrested several times on charges including obtaining cash or merchandise by bogus check, felony larceny of an automobile, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and assault and battery.
The suspect is believed to be driving a silver car, originally identified in Wellston as a 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse and leaving the scene heading west. Police now know – after watching video footage, that the suspect actually left Sayre heading east but aren’t sure what kind of car it is, however, do know its silver in color.
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s Danny Sanders says the shooter in Sayre could be the same one that’s wanted in the Wellston area shootings, but they’re not positive.
Obviously, the next step in the investigation is determining if the shooter is the same in both incidents.
Sanders says the OSBI is checking out all leads associated with the Sayre Shooting.
Before midnight – police found the bodies of two of Vance’s relatives in a home where authorities thought he might have been hiding.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said Vance fired on two Wellston police officers who were responding to a “shots fired” call Sunday night. There, one officer was reportedly shot in the foot and another in both legs. Both were taken to area hospitals and released during the night. A second suspect was arrested after the shooting of the two officers, but that person’s suspected role in the shooting was not immediately made clear.
After shooting the two officers, the sheriff said Vance stole a law enforcement cruiser and drove down the road to a mobile home park where he allegedly stole a car and shot at a woman, injuring her but not requiring medical treatment.
Authorities later said they believed Vance was driving a silver Mitsubishi.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the suspect has a medical condition, reported to be AIDS, and may try to spread it.
A number of law enforcement agencies are involved in the manhunt for Vance, including the FBI, the OSBI, the U.S. Marshals, and the Beckham and Lincoln Counties Sheriff’s Departments.
This subject is considered armed, possibly with an AK-47 and dangerous. Witnesses are urged to not approach Vance, but contact local law enforcement.
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