Officer calls encounter with Vance a “firefight”

A 2010 photo of Michael Vance from the Kay County Detention Center

An Oklahoma police officer says he engaged in a “firefight” Sunday with a man later accused in the killing of two relatives and several carjackings.

Wellston Police Officer Jim Hampton is one of two officers who were wounded in the encounter with Michael Vance, who remains on the run. Hampton told Oklahoma City television station KOCO that he shot Vance twice as they responded to a shots fired call in their area.

Hampton says that at one point, he and Vance were facing each other and shooting. Hampton was shot in the foot but has been released from the hospital. A second officer was shot and is also expected to recover.

The Oklahoma County sheriff said Vance had a hit list targeting several more people.

Sheriff John Whetsel told The Oklahoman on Tuesday that authorities are “extremely concerned about those he may have indicated that he wishes harm to” and noted that the list was mostly people from outside of the county.

Whetsel also said that law enforcement is providing protection for the people on the alleged hit list.

The FBI is coordinating the search for Vance, who was last seen in western Oklahoma.