OKC Police Investigate Shooting Of Mom, Dad In Front Of Kids

Havonnah Johnson, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Police are searching for five men they believe shot a mother and a father in front of their six children Tuesday night.

Investigators say the men forced their way into the family's home in the 2300 block of N.E. 20th. Police believe the motive may have been robbery.

While police are calling the crime a home invasion, residents who live in the area said it's a wake up call.

Shanae Gardner has lived on N.E. 20th since her eight-year-old daughter was born, but after Tuesday night, she's questioning the only place her children call home.

"My heart goes out to family," she said. "My kids used to play with their kids."

The single mother of four didn't hear the multiple shots fired across the street, but police were called out to a robbery just after 11 o'clock Tuesday night.

Micheal Hll and his fiancé Shamone Gray told police five men forced their way into the home and shot them in front of their six children.

Gardner said this crime came as quite a shock. "Living in my neighborhood, nothing really happens. I have been living here eight years and nobody has gotten shot."

Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow of the Oklahoma Police Department said officers are aggressively investigating this crime. "Anytime you have a dangerous situation like this with people forcing their way into a house and they are armed, they are firing shots, they are very, very dangerous. You have several young innocent children inside, in this case none of them were harmed but we're very fortunate because it could always have gone the other way. That's why we need to get these men identified, find out who they are and ultimately take them off the street."

But Gardner may not wait for the suspect to be caught. "I might think of moving because that really is too close to my house."

Both Hill and Gray are expected to be OK. Police don't have much to go on, but are hoping someone from the neighborhood will speak out.