Update: Oklahoma Manhunt Comes to an End
[UPDATE: Oct. 31, 2016, 9:00 a.m.]
A massive, week-long manhunt for Michael Vance Jr., suspected of killing two relatives and shooting four more, including two police officers, has come to an end.
Authorities said Vance was shot and killed by an Oklahoma State trooper at on the night of Sunday, October 30.
Authorities say they caught up to Vance around Leedey, Okla. about 130 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. They had gotten a tip that he might be in the area and were securing a perimeter when the suspect engaged in a gunfire battle with police and shot Dewey County Sheriff, Clay Sander, in the process. He was sent to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
After the gunfire, Vance fled the scene in a car and officers pursued him for another 30 minutes before he was approached by an Oklahoma State trooper. Gunfire was exchanged between the two and Vance died from injuries sustained in the exchange.
KWTV says that four troopers were involved in the shootout and that Vance was hit multiple times. No troopers were injured.
[UPDATE: Oct. 25, 2016, 9:30 a.m.]
It has been over 24 hours since Michael Vance shot and killed his aunt and uncle and then sprayed local law enforcement with bullets from his AK-47 before stealing a police vehicle and fleeing from the scene.
Since then, Vance has injured two more people in pursuit of new vehicles to run from authorities in. In all, his rampage has killed two and killed four across three different counties in Oklahoma.
In reaction to the state-wide manhunt, a Blue Alert has gone into effect in hopes of finding and arresting Vance, as he is described as "armed and dangerous" and has proved he will hurt someone to get what he wants.
The Blue Alert, signed into law just lase month by Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, warned law enforcement and the public when someone is wanted in a case involving an assault on a law enforcement officer.
Electronic signs along Oklahoma's major roadways are now all asking the public for their help to find Vance. The signs give drivers the same information that law enforcement has when looking up a suspect, name, vehicle and license plate number.
Original story posted below.
Authorities in Oklahoma have launched a state-wide manhunt for an “armed and dangerous” suspect in an overnight shooting rampage that has stretched across three counties, wounding two police officers and leaving two of the alleged gunman’s relatives dead.
Police say Michael Vance Jr., 38, opened fire on two Wellston, Okla., police officers Sunday night after the officers responded to a shots-fired call in Lincoln County. Lincoln County Sheriff Charles Dougherty told reporters that the suspect “came out with an AK-47 and just open fired on everybody.”
Two officers were treated for non-life threatening injuries and released from the hospital the same night.
Vance then fled from the scene in a patrol car with a second suspect in the passenger seat. The two drove to a nearby mobile home park, where Vance shot a woman and hijacked her vehicle.
The woman refused treatment at the scene.
During the incident, Vance posted two separate videos to his Facebook using the new “Facebook Live” feature on the social media platform.
In the first video, Vance appears driving a vehicle. He says to those watching in the Live feeds, “This is more intense than what I thought it was going to be, to say the least.”
“This truck is about dead.” He adds. “I need it to get out of the road, which I hope it does, because I’m going to steal another car, like right now.”
In the second video, Vance is in a different vehicle. He talks directly to his sister thanking her for her help and understanding.
“If you want to know what’s next, stay tuned to your local news.” Vance said.