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Police: Oklahoma man wanted for violent crimes had hit list

By SEAN MURPHY, Associated Press
Published: October 26, 2016, 9:49am

OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma man who has been on the run since Sunday, wanted in a string of killings, shootings and carjackings, likely intends to attack several people linked to a sexual assault case against him, authorities said Wednesday.

Michael Dale Vance Jr., a 38-year-old man from Chandler, Oklahoma, is wanted on multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder. He was last seen early Monday about 30 miles from the Texas border in western Oklahoma — 165 miles from where the manhunt began Sunday night in Wellston.

“Obviously, as long as he isn’t apprehended, we’re extremely concerned about those he may have indicated that he wishes harm to,” Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel told The Oklahoman newspaper on Tuesday. “Most of those are outside of Oklahoma County.”

Law enforcement is providing protection for the people on the alleged hit list, Whetsel said.

Vance referenced some potential targets in videos he posted live on Facebook on Sunday, while on the run from police, sheriff’s office spokesman Mark Opgrande said.

In one video, Vance mentions the name of a woman.

She knew that “I would get my guns, and I would come … and you’re so lucky this went down this way,” he says.

Opgrande said some of the people authorities fear Vance may target are connected to a pending criminal case against Vance that alleges he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl.

“It’s a compilation of people who he thinks may have wronged him, that he mentioned in the video or who may have been involved in his cases,” Opgrande said. “These people have all been spoken to. They’ve all taken precautions.”

Wellston Officer Jim Hampton, who was shot in the foot Sunday night during a gunbattle with Vance, told Oklahoma City television station KOCO (http://bit.ly/2f6QhbW ) that he shot the suspect twice.

“He fell to the ground again, laid there for a few minutes, got back up. The firefight was on again,” Hampton said. “At one time, we was actually standing up facing each other, shooting at each other.”

The FBI is coordinating the search for Vance among several federal, state and local agencies and is deliberately being tight-lipped so Vance isn’t tipped off to their efforts, spokesman Terry Weber said in a statement.

The search began Sunday night after Hampton and another police officer exchanged gunfire with Vance after responding to a report of shots fired in Wellston, 35 miles northeast of Oklahoma City. The other officer was also hurt but is expected to recover. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said one person was arrested, but that Vance fled in a patrol vehicle.

Vance is suspected of later shooting a woman and stealing her vehicle at a mobile home park near Wellston, then driving about 8 miles to his relatives’ mobile home in Luther and killing them, Opgrande said.

Ronald Everett Wilkson, 55, had been shot and had stab wounds to his neck “consistent with an attempt to sever his head,” an arrest affidavit said. Valerie Kay Wilkson, 54, had similar neck wounds along with defensive wounds on her arms, the affidavit stated.

Authorities believe Vance filmed the two Facebook Live videos documenting his run from police before going to the Wilksons’ home.

In one video, a man wearing a backward baseball cap and a shirt that appears to be covered in blood says he’s about to steal another vehicle and that it’s “gonna be intense.” In another, which seems to be filmed inside a second vehicle, the same man says: “Letting y’all know, look, this is real,” before panning to a long gun on the passenger seat.

He said: “If you want to know what’s up next, stay tuned to your local news.”

Vance also is suspected of shooting a man in the leg in an attempted carjacking early Monday at a convenience store in Sayre, about 30 miles from the Texas border. Sayre Police Chief Ronnie Harrold said the man identified Vance as the man who shot him.

The arrest warrant for Vance also includes charges of an unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and possession of a firearm after former conviction of a felony. Court records show Vance has a court hearing scheduled Nov. 7 in Lincoln County on a felony charge of child sexual abuse for the allegations involving the 15-year-old girl.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said Vance is believed to be driving a silver 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse with an Oklahoma license plate of 943LQQ. Vance is described as Native American, standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 212 pounds.

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