Police: Man Shot By Norman Officers Is Suspect In Del City Robberies

A man who was shot by Norman police officers Saturday afternoon has been identified as the suspect in a string of robberies in Del City and Midwest City, according to Del City police. 

On Saturday, Norman police first responded to a reported suspicious person and vehicle near 168th Avenue N.E., but when officers spotted the vehicle matching the description, the driver took off and led police on a pursuit.

Jimmie Wheeler, 44, led police on a 35-minute chase Saturday afternoon that started in Norman and ended only three miles away at 192nd Avenue and E. Rock Creek Road, where Wheeler wrecked his car.

Wheeler got out of his car, and Norman police said his suspicious behavior led officers to fire shots. Wheeler suffered a gunshot wound to his torso and was taken to the hospital. A Cleveland County deputy was also present but did not fire a weapon.

8/10/2014 Related Story: Suspect Shot By Norman Police Now Behind Bars

After being treated at the hospital, Wheeler was booked into the Cleveland County Jail on one count of eluding police.

Monday morning, Del City police told News 9 that they have identified Wheeler as the man who robbed a Wal-Mart store on Wednesday, August 6.

8/7/2014 Related Story: Del City Police Trying To Identify Serial Robber

According to Del City police, detectives obtained arrest warrants last Friday, after television viewers helped police identify Wheeler as the suspect. Wheeler has an extensive record in Arizona that includes robbery with a firearm, and has been arrested recently in Oklahoma for unrelated charges still pending.

Del City police said Wheeler was living in the Little Axe area at 2501 168th Ave in Norman. He is suspected in at least two more Del City robberies and one robbery in Midwest City that occurred in 2013.

Charges in those cases are expected to be coming soon, according to police.