Police Searching For Leads After 2 Found Shot In 2 NE OKC Locations

Tuesday's double shooting in northeast Oklahoma City left one woman dead and one man critically injured, police said.

Police officials said an officer was on his way into work when he discovered one of the victims in the middle of the road.

The victim who died was identified as 57-year-old Joyce Smith on Wednesday.

Police think the two shootings were connected.

A rolling shootout in northeast Oklahoma City sent police to two different scenes, only blocks apart. A blue Suburban with windows shot out first drew the attention of a police officer. 

“A police officer was driving into work shortly before 4 p.m.,” said Master Sgt. Gary Knight, Oklahoma City Police Department. “He noticed a car just sitting in the intersection of Northeast 36th and Kelley Avenue.”

On closer inspection of the Suburban, the officer found a shooting victim.

“When he got out to see what was going on, he found a person inside the vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound,” Knight said.

The man was rushed to the hospital, and police said he is expected to survive.

That was not the case at the second shooting scene.

“Just minutes later, another call came out about a shooting victim at Northeast 35th and Lindsey,” Knight said.

That one was near a school bus stop. 

“My brother was getting home from school. I don’t know if he was on the bus at the time or if he was getting off,” said Ariana Martinez, a witness. “He said there was caution tape all around the house.”

Police said Smith was inside the van when she was shot. Smith was taken to a hospital in critical condition but did not make it.

Currently, investigators do not know the relationship between the first victim and Smith or the motives behind the shootings.

“It’s believed they were shot during the same event,” said Knight. “Although, they ended up blocks away from each other.”

Police are now searching for whoever pulled the trigger and took off.

“They said some people were running and all that, but I didn’t know what was going on,” said Deomingo Flores, a witness.

Police have not released the name of the man who was taken to the hospital. Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call the homicide tip line at 405-297-1200.