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Fugitive dies in gun battle with police
Okla. man tied to several shootings
Wounded by the suspect: Dewey Sheriff Clay Sander. (Okla. Sheriffs Association via AP)
Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — State troopers shot and killed a man wanted in connection with a string of violent crimes, including the killing of two relatives and the shooting of three law enforcement officers.

A tip from a farmer led authorities on Sunday to a campsite near Hammon in far western Oklahoma, where a gun battle ended the weeklong search for the suspect, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Captain Paul Timmons said. Michael Dale Vance Jr. had posted two Facebook Live videos on Oct. 24 documenting his run from police, Timmons said.

Several troopers were chasing Vance, who drove a stolen truck off the road near Leedey, 130 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. ‘‘He exited the vehicle and engaged our troopers in a pretty fierce gun battle,’’ Timmons said.

Authorities plan to release dashboard-camera video of the shooting, Timmons said.

Earlier Sunday, Vance wounded Dewey County Sheriff Clay Sander after he stopped a pickup truck to warn the driver about a chain dragging behind it. The driver “exited the vehicle shooting an assault rifle,’’ said an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman, Jessica Brown. ‘‘The sheriff was shot in the shoulder and arm as he returned fire.’’ Sander was recovering on Monday.

After Sander broadcast a description of the truck, Highway Patrol air units spotted the vehicle and a chase ensued, Timmons said.

Vance was wanted on multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder. He wounded two police officers Oct. 23 in Wellston, authorities said. Vance, 38, was suspected of shooting a woman and stealing her vehicle near Wellston, then driving to his relatives’ home in Luther and killing Ronald Everett Wilkson, 55, and Valerie Kay Wilkson, 54.

Vance was due in court Nov. 7 to face felony child sex abuse charges.