OSBI Pursues Leads In Nichols Hills Chief's Death

Michael Konopasek, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday it is following many leads in Nichols Hills Fire Chief Keith Bryan's murder investigation.

The bureau says it is looking at recent job applications after investigators learned the suspect might be someone who was turned down for a job. At the same time, neighboring fire departments are taking extra precautions with the killer still on the streets.

At Oklahoma City's main fire department on Wednesday the doors were locked with two police squad cars out front.

"We have locked our administration doors at fire administration," said Deputy Chief Marc Woodard.

The extra precautions are in response to a warning Mustang Police issued following Bryan's murder.

"We do have a killer on the loose," said OSBI spokesperson Jessica Brown.

In the meantime, OSBI is looking for a white man in his 20s or 30s. Investigators say he was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt during the time of the killing. Investigators also says the suspect drives a dark colored truck.

"[The investigation is] so broad at this point," said Brown. "We're trying to narrow it. OSBI agents and Mustang Police detectives are still following leads. Right now, we have many to follow, which is a good thing."

Although there is speculation from law enforcement that Oklahoma City Fire Chief Keith Bryant may have been a target, an Oklahoma City Fire Department official says OSBI has not looked over their job applications.

"We have to consider that as an option since their names are so very similar and their jobs are very similar," said Brown.

Nichols Hills Fire Department says the last person the department hired was in 2007, while Oklahoma City just finished a fire academy this past April.

Oklahoma City Fire Chief Keith Bryant was out of the state during the murder of the Nichols Hills' chief. He's been in Washington, D.C. since Monday. Bryant says he is shocked and saddened by Chief Bryan's death and that his thoughts and support are with Bryan's family and the Nichols Hills Fire Department.