Police Increasing Patrols Amid Wewoka Gang Violence

The Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department said law enforcement will have an increased presence in Wewoka due to an influx of gang-related gun violence within the city.

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"We're coming together as one - all the police agencies with the help of District Attorney Erik Johnson as well, some task force - and we're going to have some federal agencies help us with the patrolling, just saturating the area," said Lighthorse Police Chief Chris Coker.

Coker said the rash of violence stems from an ongoing feud between two families over the past several months. 

"Both families claiming gang affiliations," said Coker.

Coker said several of the shooting incidents involved people firing into the air rather than at people. But there have been at least two shootings in which people were targeted.

One of them happened in September outside the E-Z mart in Wewoka. Police said a 21-year-old man was killed. Coker said investigators believe that the shooting was gang-related.

Another shooting in which someone was hit happened about a week ago.

"We had a young man that was shot four times while sitting on his porch," said Coker. "He is going to make a recovery," Coker said. He also stated that no one has been arrested in the porch shooting and the investigation is ongoing.

In addition, Coker said someone fired two shots into the air outside the Family Dollar store last week after an altercation inside the store spilled outside. No one was hit. Coker said the incident was gang-related and police have since arrested a few people involved in the altercation.

Furthermore, News 9 received tips from viewers that a house had recently burned down. Coker said while it was unclear if the fire was gang-related, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the incident. One person suffered minor injuries, Coker said.

Amid the influx of violence, Coker said police had saturation patrols over the weekend.

"We managed to take three guns off the street this weekend," Coker said.

District Attorney Erik Johnson announced on Facebook that there will be a large law enforcement presence in Wewoka in the coming weeks as well.

"These are gangs. The people that run these circles are people being targeted. Not innocent people, anything like that. It's gangs. It's just not random shootings." said Coker. "Just be vigilant but continue to go out and live your life. Just know that the local law enforcement, state, federal - we're out there. We're everywhere so continue to live and take the kids to school, live your life, and we will put an end to this." 

Coker said he's encouraging people to be more forthcoming as well and report suspicious activity.