WELEETKA, Okla. — Authorities working to narrow leads in the June shooting deaths of two girls checked area gun dealers and pawn shops to determine who had bought or recently pawned .40-caliber pistols, one of two weapons used in the slayings.
The time-consuming procedure yielded the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation the names of more than 60 owners of .40-caliber guns in the Weleetka area.
The OSBI then sent letters to all those gun owners, asking them to voluntarily submit their weapons for test firings over the weekend at the Okfuskee County Courthouse at Okemah.
About 40 of those gun owners showed up Saturday and Sunday, and their weapons were fired once or twice and then returned to them.
The fired bullets and shell casings, meanwhile, were sent to a crime lab for analysis to determine if any of them match those used in the slayings of Skyla Jade Whitaker, 11, and Taylor Paschal-Placker, 13.
Jessica Brown, spokeswoman for the OSBI, said about five of the gun owners no longer owned the weapons, but provided the names of the new owners.
The other 15 or so gun owners who did not show up will be checked by the OSBI to see why they didn't volunteer for the test firings.
"They can have any number of reasons" for not volunteering, Brown said. "They could be against it, they could be anti-government, or they eventually may want to help."
The girls were shot on June 8 a half-mile north of Taylor's home in the small town of Weleetka, 70 miles south of Tulsa. No arrests have been made.
The state Medical Examiner's office said the younger girl had eight wounds to the arms, chest, abdomen and neck, and the older girl had five gunshot wounds to the head, groin and hand.
State News
Agents checked gun dealers, pawn shops to create list
- State News
-
-
Women encouraged to put health first
It’s an unfortunate fact that more than 60 percent of Oklahoma women are overweight and obese, which contributes to heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
-
Chandler man reflects on being first black to enlist in the Oklahoma National Guard
Berton Zephaniah Lewis sat back in his easy chair reflecting on the day in 1958 he was asked to join the Oklahoma Army National Guard.
-
Oklahoma Blood Institute remodels, gets new advisory board
The Oklahoma Blood Institute celebrated its recently remodeled donor center Wednesday.
-
Inhofe comments on new ‘upside down’ plane, Korea, Obama
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe has a new plane.
-
AG’s Victim Services Unit certifies faith-based program for trafficking survivors
The Attorney General’s Victim Services Unit has certified Oklahoma’s first program to offer services to adult victims of human sex trafficking.
-
Legislators fine tune cultural center plan
Gov. Mary Fallin has asked the state House and Senate leadership this week for a plan to complete the $171.5 million American Indian Cultural Center and Museum. The state Centennial Project was supposed to be completed in 2007.
-
Funding approved for Capitol Fitness Center
Gov. Mary Fallin today applauded the board of the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust for approving funds to create a fitness center at the state Capitol. Board members approved a $38,500 proposal submitted by the governor, which includes a $20,000 contribution from the Oklahoma Hospital Association. The funds will largely be used for exercise equipment.
-
‘Person of interest’ in Tulsa killing may be in Oklahoma City
Tulsa police believe a “person of interest” in a recent homicide may be in the Oklahoma City area.
-
Oklahomans, others learning importance of keeping tax refund cards secure
As Oklahoma prepares to issue thousands of tax refunds on debit cards, banking officials say it’s important to secure those cards to keep the money safe.
-
Insurance department apologizes for offensive language in email
The Oklahoma Insurance Department on Thursday apologized for what it described as “an unauthorized draft of an e-mail” that contained “offensive and unacceptable language” while promoting an upcoming tornado summit.
- More State News Headlines
-
Women encouraged to put health first
