Law Officers Search For Suspect After Shooting Injures Two Officers

Sunday, October 23rd 2016, 8:35 pm

By: LeighAnne Manwarren

UPDATE (10/24 6:30 a.m.) - News 9 learned that Vance has HIV/AIDS and may try to spread the disease.

UPDATE (10/24 4:11 a.m.) - Wellston Emergency Management reports both officers are home, resting and recovering.

UPDATE (10/24 3:55 a.m.) - Beckham County Sheriff's Office responded to a reported shooting at the Flying J just off of I-40 in Sayre around 2:30 a.m.

Beckham County Sheriff Scott Jay says the victim was hit in the thigh and taken to the hospital.

The shooter, who officials believe to be Vance, fled the scene in a gray/silver Mitsubishi Eclipse.

Jay believes this was a car hijacking gone wrong.

UPDATE (10/24 1:03 a.m.) - Police do not a have a solid idea of Vance's whereabouts at this time. He is believed to still be armed with an AK-47, which shoots rounds capable of piercing police body armor.

UPDATE (10/24 12:34 a.m.) - Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office also confirms the two homicides in the latter tweet are family members of Vance's. A male was found dead in the yard and a female found dead inside the house.

They also believe Vance was shot twice in the upper torso.

In the former tweet, officials say Vance switched cars at one point, exchanging the white Lincoln for the gray Mitsubishi. Vance is thought to be heading north, possibly to Stillwater or Ponca City.

UPDATE (10/24 12:03 a.m.) - Authorities discovered two bodies in a home near the Redbud Energy Facility in Luther. These are believed to be connected to the manhunt for Michael Vance.

T#2 - Michael Dale Vance Jr. - suspect in shooting of 2 Lincoln Co. deputies - car jacking and shooting a woman and 2 homicides in Ok Co. — Oklahoma Co. Sheriff (@OkCountySheriff) October 24, 2016

*BOLO* Lincoln Co. Shooting suspect Michael Vance - driving 2007 Gray Mitsubishi Eclipse 943LQQ If seen call 9-1-1. — Oklahoma Co. Sheriff (@OkCountySheriff) October 24, 2016

Law officers are searching for a man accused of shooting two police officers Sunday evening near Wellston in Lincoln County, authorities reported.

The missing suspect has been identified as 38-year-old Michael Vance. He is a white man, is about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs about 185 pounds.

About 6:30 p.m., two Wellston police officers were shot while responding to a shots fired call.

When officers and deputies were at the scene, a man with an AK-47 began shooting, Lincoln County Sheriff Charlie Dougherty said.

One officer was shot in the foot and another officer was shot in the leg. Both officers shot back at the man, Dougherty said.

Both officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries, the Lincoln County Emergency Management Office said.

The shooter, who was shot at least twice, got into a patrol pickup and drove to a nearby mobile home park. The suspect carjacked a woman, shot at her and injured her. She refused medical treatment at the scene.

The stolen vehicle is a white Lincoln Town Car with a blue top. Investigators think the suspect still has an AK-47.

Vance was recently released from the Lincoln County jail. He is accused of child sexual assault, Dougherty said.

One other person was detained by law enforcement officers but they are not sure how the person is connected with the officer-involved shooting.

Law enforcement officials have established a hotline to deal specifically with tips regarding the search for Vance. That hotline number is (405) 246-9205 and will be manned 24/7 by U.S. Marshals.

Stay with News 9 and News9.com for more information as it becomes available.