Wounded Wellston Officer Wishes He Could Have Killed Vance

One of the Wellston Police officers wounded in a shootout with Michael Vance eight days ago wishes he pulled the trigger to end the fugitive’s life.

“People were contacting me, saying, ‘hey, we are after him,’” said Officer Jim Hampton about the search updates he was getting last night from fellow law enforcement.

Vance was accused of shooting Hampton in the foot and Officer Shawn Stewart in the legs Oct. 23 before eventually killing two of his family members in Luther.

“A lot of emotions go through your head, you want him stopped,” said Hampton about his thoughts when officers had the fugitive surrounded near Hammon, OK.

Hampton still walks with a limp and is now regarded by many in Wellston as a hero. But the relief is clouded with regret in not getting a second showdown with Vance.

Hampton tells News 9 he wishes he could have pulled the trigger Sunday night and ended Vance’s life.

"We had some unfinished business that we needed to take care of. But I never got the opportunity to do that,” said Hampton, who hopes to be back on the job in two weeks.