OSBI renews reward for suspects, information in Thanksgiving shooting of Wagoner man

OKLAHOMA CITY - The search continues for two men suspected in the shooting of a Wagoner man last Thanksgiving and the theft of his weapons.

The Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation on Thursday announced it is renewing the reward offer of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the two men.

The suspects depicted in the sketches to the left are a light complected Hispanic male in his late 50s standing approximately 5-feet 9-inches tall and weighing around 160-165 pounds and a man in his mid to late 30s, having dark curly hair extending to the back of his shirt collar, and who stands about 5-feet 9-inches tall and weighs about 160 pounds.

The men are suspected in the shooting of 74-year-old Kenneth Payne last Thanksgiving at the Fort Gibson Wildlife Management Area Shooting Range, just a few miles from his home.

Reportedly the retired Air Force serviceman was sighting in several of his guns when at around 7:30 a.m. someone shot him multiple times. Though left for dead, he was able to use a cell phone to call his family for help.

Officials said at least four guns and a gun caddy were stolen from Payne at the time of the incident. One of the stolen rifles was a rare Mitchell Black Lightning .22 caliber rifle which investigators hope someone will recognize and lead officials to it.

An OSBI forensic artist met with Payne two weeks after the shooting to draw sketches of the two suspects. The sketches, however, are only considered likenesses of the suspects.

Anyone having any information about this case is encouraged to call either the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office or the OSBI hotline at 1-800-522-8017.