Gang shooting at Oklahoma Wal-Mart leaves 1 injured- police search for suspect www.privateofficer.com
Tulsa OK March 15 2011 Detectives have focused their search on one man in connection with the apparent gang-related shooting Thursday at a Walmart Supercenter in Tulsa, police said Friday.
More than 100 calls poured into Tulsa’s 911 center after a gunman fired shots at the Walmart at Admiral Boulevard and Memorial Drive just before 9 p.m. Thursday.
Kadrian Daniels, 18, was shot in the hip and was taken by ambulance to a hospital in serious condition, officials said.
An arrest warrant had been issued Tuesday for Daniels as a material witness in a homicide. Daniels, who has been identified by police as a gang member, is under guard at the hospital and will be arrested upon leaving the hospital, Officer Jason Willingham said.
He said the shooting resulted after two rival groups encountered each other at the store and a fight began.
“There is a gang element to this; however, it does not appear they went to the Walmart to engage in this gunfight,” Willingham said.
Police said three men got into a physical altercation with Daniels at the store before one of the men pulled out a gun.
Willingham confirmed that children were in the area when the shots were fired, but no one other than Daniels was hit by the gunfire.
Police have interviewed and released two of three men who had been sought for questioning in the shooting, Willingham said.
Police were continuing to search late Friday for Darris Wallace, 20, and Willingham said he is suspected to be the shooter. Wallace is described as black, 5 feet 8 inches tall and about 155 pounds.
Wallace was charged in November with unlawful possession of a controlled drug and possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction, court records show. He is due to be back in court in that case on Monday, records show.
Police and court records also show that Daniels was arrested in August during Operation Triple Beam, a multiagency sweep targeting repeat criminals.
Daniels had been charged with the homicide of Shawn Hatcher, whose body was found in the 200 block of East 44th Street North last July 25.
At that time, police said Daniels was affiliated with the 47 Green Team gang.
They also reported that Daniels was in possession of a .357-caliber handgun at the time of his arrest.
Daniels’ brother, Kenneth Daniels, and cousin Steven Daniels were both killed last summer as a result of a gang feud.
In December, charges connected to Hatcher’s killing against Daniels and a co- defendant were dismissed, and they were released from jail.
A prosecutor said a necessary witness was not located and was not available to testify at a preliminary hearing.
The shooting was gang-related, the prosecutor said, adding that charges could be refiled if the witness problems were resolved.
Although a lot of people were in the Walmart when the shooting occurred Thursday evening, people scattered quickly and took cover when they heard the shots, and police did not have many witnesses, Willingham said.
“We are still needing people to come forward if they were there and they have not talked to police,” he said.
Willingham said 107 calls were placed to Tulsa’s 911 center by people at the store. Authorities were reviewing recordings of those calls, and they were not released Friday.
Detectives also were reviewing surveillance video from the store. Police would not release them Friday, saying they are evidence in the ongoing investigation.
Ashley Hardie, a spokeswoman for Walmart, said the company will continue to cooperate with police in the investigation.
“We take this matter very seriously,” she said. “We also appreciate the quick response of Tulsa police, and we will continue to provide information about all that is relevant to the investigation.”
Hardie said the store has a third-party security company that provides 24-hour surveillance.
“We also partner closely with law enforcement agencies in every community we serve to constantly review safety measures to make sure were are providing a safe shopping environment for all of our customers and our associates,” she said.
Anyone with information about Wallace’s whereabouts is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS or tulsaworld.com/crimestoppers
Source:www.tulsaworld.com
