Authorities say a man targeting motorists randomly from his pickup truck shot at least four vehicles along a three-county stretch of Interstate 40, killing a man traveling with his wife near Hydro and a woman more than 10 miles away in Weatherford. Billie Jean West, 63, of Lone Wolf, was pronounced dead at a Weatherford hospital, according to the OSBI.
Advertisement
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is handling the case.
The first calls came in at about 11:35 p.m. local time in Canadian County, west of Oklahoma City, with reports of a shooting on Interstate 40.
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Jessica Brown said Thursday the agency is taking over the investigation. The driver was firing at other vehicles on the road, Custer County Sherriff Bruce Peoples told ABC News today. Police say the shooting spree started on I-40 in Canadian County around midnight and continued into Caddo and Custer counties as the shooter drove some 50 miles.
Both victims were able to pull over to the shoulder of the highway after being shot, Peoples said. After a 14-mile chase, the suspect finally stopped his auto, surrendered and was taken into custody just before 1 a.m., Peoples said.
The shooter also fired into several other vehicles, though Peoples said no one else was hurt.
Advertisement
Peoples said Thursday that authorities had not yet interviewed the suspect to determine a motive, but they don’t suspect anyone was specifically targeted.
