shootout at muskogee mall.

Medics wheel a man injured during a gunfight Saturday from Arrowhead Mall. One man was killed and five people were injured.

Law officers lock down Arrowhead Mall on Saturday following a fatal shooting.

Medics and rescue workers care for a man shot Saturday, April 10, 2010, during what the Muskogee Police Chief Rex Eskridge characterized as a gunfight in Arrowhead Mall in Muskogee. One man died, and five people were injured.


Medics load Madison McCord, 13, onto a helicopter for transport after she was shot Saturday, April 10, 2010, at Arrowhead Mall in Muskogee.

All photos by Jerry Willis, Muskogee Phoenix Staff

one dead, five hurt after mall shooting.

One dead, five hurt after mall shootout
Authorities searching for three, including two teens
By Donna Hales Phoenix Staff Writer

The Muskogee Police Department and other agencies worked late into the night searching for three persons of interest following a deadly shootout Saturday.

Police said Daniel Jermaine Anderson, 20, Michael Mayberry, 16, and Anton Nelson, 17, were involved in the shooting at Arrowhead Mall.

Police were called to Arrowhead Mall at 4:11 p.m. when multiple shots were fired.
Jarrod Reed, 17, of Muskogee died after he was shot in the torso, said Police Chief Rex Eskridge.

Five others were injured. Not all who were injured were identified when the Phoenix went to press.

Police believe Reed was an intended target in the shooting.

The U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, sheriff’s offices from Muskogee and Wagoner counties, Wagoner and Fort Gibson city police and Creek Nation Lighthorse officers assisted Muskogee police.

Reed’s body has been taken to the state Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy, said Deputy Chief Johnny Teehee.

Pico Reed, 18, of Muskogee remained hospitalized at Muskogee Regional Medical Center on Saturday night, police said.

Madison McCord, 13, who had been staying with her aunt, Tonya Pierce of Muskogee, was shot in the leg. She was flown to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa.

Pierce’s daughter, who was with McCord at the mall, said three girls were waiting for a family member to pick them up when the shooting occurred.

One told Pierce “a bunch of black men started shooting.”

Pierce said Madison ended up with a nicked artery in her leg.

Pierce was crying as she tried to get into the locked-down mall to hunt for another relative. Police told her they would help locate the relative.

A man from McAlester also was shot while shopping at the mall, Eskridge said.

Eskridge said most of those shot were innocent bystanders — shoppers.

There were numerous shell casings on the mall floor in the area of Hibbett Sports and toward the recruiting office in the mall, Teehee said.

One adult black male was taken into custody as a material witness. His name was not being released for his own safety, Teehee said.

Police said they were convinced the man had information about the shootings but would not cooperate.

Every police investigator in Muskogee was called in. Investigator Mark Ridley said he had been painting. He still had paint on his arms as he ran inside the mall.

Police units surrounded the mall while police were inside sweeping the area for evidence and any possible victims.

Muskogee County EMS spokeswoman Rebecca Smith said the call to EMS came in reporting multiple shooting victims.

Muskogee police, sheriff’s deputies, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, mall security and EMS swept the mall looking in all the stores and hallways for others who may have been injured.

“We transported patients to MRMC,” Smith said. “One had a serious leg injury, one had a non-life threatening injury to the wrist, and one had a serious life-threatening leg injury. One was flown by EagleMed with life-threatening injuries to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa.”

In addition, one patient was located at Sixth and Martin Luther King streets who had a minor injury, but refused treatment. That person was taken by private vehicle to MRMC, she said.
Wagoner EMS also responded to assist and transported one of the patients to Muskogee Community Hospital.

two being sought have outstanding warrants.

By Donna Hales Phoenix Staff Writer

Two of the persons of interest in Saturday’s fatal shooting at Arrowhead Mall already had outstanding warrants and were being sought by police.

The shooting took place at approximately 4:10 p.m. in the east end of the mall near Hibbett Sports.

Jarrod Reed, 17, of Muskogee died after he was shot in the torso. Five others were injured.
Police are looking for Daniel Jermaine Anderson, Michael Mayberry and Anton Nelson.

• Anderson, 20, has three arrest warrants out for him in connection with four felonies stemming from a drive-by shooting of a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old April 3.

Anderson was described by Lt. Bobby Lee as being a black male about 5 foot 8 inches tall and weighing between 150 and 160 pounds.

• Mayberry, 16, has a arrest warrant out for him for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the same shooting Anderson is charged in connection with.
Mayberry is charged as a youthful offender in that case. He is described as a black male who is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds.

• Nelson, 17, of Louisiana is believed to be visiting relatives in Muskogee, Deputy Chief Johnny Teehee said.

Nelson is described as being a black male who is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 135 pounds.

The April 3 shooting took place on Ninth Street, north of Market Street. One of the juveniles was shot in the stomach and elbow, and the other was shot in the back.

Police arrested Lamario Debar Page, 24, after one of the teenagers and witnesses identified him as the alleged shooter.

Page was charged in Muskogee County District Court with conspiracy to use a vehicle in discharge of a firearm, use of vehicle in discharge of weapon, conspiracy to commit assault and battery with deadly weapon, and assault and battery with a deadly weapon. His bond was set at $200,000.

If you know the whereabouts of Daniel Jermaine Anderson, Michael Mayberry or Anton Nelson, call Muskogee Police at 683-8000.

employees in mall relate stories of fear, panic

By Cathy Spaulding Phoenix Staff Writer

Owners, managers and employees at mall stores echoed the panic and concern surrounding the gunfire that rang through Arrowhead Mall on Saturday afternoon.

Arrowhead Mall Manager Scott Stephenson said he could not comment.

A person who answered the phone at Hibbett Sports shortly after 4:40 p.m. said she did not know what was going on.

“I don’t know, we’re trapped, we just got shot at and we don’t have any comment right now,” she said before hanging up.

Susan Miller, who works at Starlite Golf Co., said she and several patrons witnessed the shooting and were making statements for the police. She would not say what she saw.

“It happened right in front of us,” she said.

Miller said about 20 patrons were in the arcade or playing miniature golf. Some were evacuated and others remained to give statements, she said.

Mike Grimes, an automotive worker at Sears, said he heard six shots fired inside the mall.

Salena Apple, who works concessions at the Arrowhead Mall Cinema 10 Theatres said she didn’t hear any shots, but soon saw people running through the food court.

“I saw the girl who was shot in the right forearm,” Apple said. “She was running, and the deputy got her and she left with him.”

About 30 customers at Arrowhead Mall Cinema 10 Theatres were evacuated, said Corey Hill, a projectionist at the theater. He said theater employees remained there, and the cinema was put in lockdown.

Apple said she and other workers helped customers evacuate.

“We had to stay calm so they would be calm,” she said. “We gave them re-admit tickets.”

When called around 7:30 p.m., Apple said she had just gotten home 30 minutes earlier.

Apple said she was shaking a little while at the theater, “but then, I was talking all day.”

Hill said the theater was to be closed Saturday night.

Hannah Hamilton, who works at Twisted Joe’s, said around 5:30 p.m. she was told that all people must leave the mall.

Marilyn Williams, manager on duty at JCPenney, said the store was put on lockdown at around 4 p.m. All customers were evacuated, and some left through the store’s exits to the parking lot, she said. Williams said about 30 employees were gathered and were in a safe place.

Williams said she heard no shots.

Hope Bridges, co-owner of Kat Daddy’s Bar and Grill, said there were about 100 customers in the restaurant when they heard people screaming. She called 911 and was told it had already been called in. They evacuated the restaurant and no one was hurt.

“It was very frightening,” she said. “People were saying someone has a gun.”

The restaurant is family owned and operated and they wanted to get the customers out.

“This is terrible for everyone. This is a tragedy for the mall. The mall was crowded. Our whole family was in.”

Gary Edwards of Catoosa stood across the street from Arrowhead Mall just to see what was going on.

“It’s a beautiful day, and then some knucklehead doing the wrong thing. It’s a black eye for Muskogee.”

Edwards, who inherited a house in Muskogee, came here for the Azalea Festival activities. A friend who has a police scanner told him about the shooting.

Magnus Duru of Nigeria, a nursing student at Bacone College, went to the chili cook-off, but it was over. Then he saw all the police at the mall and stopped to stare, wondering what was going on.

“I’ve always heard Muskogee is a good place to raise a family,” said Duru, who has lived in Muskogee less than six months.

Suzie Stoneburner of Fort Gibson, business manager for Estee Lauder at Dillards, said she left a baby shower when she heard what had happened. She wanted to make sure employees at Dillards and Zales, where friends work, were safe.

“My stomach is in knots,” she said. “Thank God I wasn’t working. I just can’t believe this.”

teens shot, local man arrested.

this incident took place last weekend. as we were leaving for justin's surprise party three police cars had the road blocked off, with three additional squad cars blocking the opposite side of the street. yellow tape was roping off an area a little wider than a house.

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A Muskogee man was arrested on a complaint of attempted murder, and two teenagers are recovering after being shot.

The names of the teenagers, ages 15 and 17, were not released, said Lt. Bobby Lee.
Police arrested Lemario Page, 24, after one of the teenagers and witnesses identified him as the alleged shooter. Police are searching for another suspect.

The shooting took place on Ninth Street, north of Market Street at approximately 5:15 p.m. One of the juveniles was shot in the stomach and elbow, and the other was shot in the back. Their injuries did not appear to be life threatening, Lee said.

breaking news: police identify persons of interest in mall shootings.

Three persons of interest are being sought in connection with the shooting Saturday at Arrowhead Mall that left one teenager dead and five other people injured.

Daniel Jermaine Anderson, 20, of Summit; Michael Mayberry, 16, of Muskogee; and Anton Nelson, 17, of Muskogee are wanted for questioning, said Lt. Bobby Lee.

Anyone with information as to their whereabouts should call Muskogee Police: 683-8000.

The name of the teenager killed in a shootout at Arrowhead Mall on Saturday has been identified as Jarrod Reed, 17, of Muskogee. Two others remained hospitalized.

Pico Reed, 18, of Muskogee is in guarded condition at Muskogee Regional Medical Center, said Rex Eskridge, chief of police.

Madison McCord, 13, had been staying at the home of her aunt, Tonya Pierce of Muskogee.
Pierce said Madison was inside the mall with her cousin and a sister waiting on their ride home when they saw "a whole bunch of black men start shooting."

She said Madison had a nicked artery in her leg and was taken by Eagle Med to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa.

more twilight pictures.

tonight kate sent more pictures from her party ...

business cards.

i received an order today for several pieces. one of the pieces i'm most excited about is my new business card!

{i've decided i've dropped my phone too many times because my pictures always come out blurry now, and they didn't when i first got the phone}. i'll go ahead and post the pictures that i took, but i'm also attaching the digital mock-ups.

i love them!

pool hall junkies.

today justin and travis golfed most of the afternoon while lindsay and sierra made a quick trip to tulsa to pick up justin's birthday cake and cupcakes. lindsay had arranged a surprise birthday party for him at the pool hall, so it worked out for the boys to play golf.

everyone kept asking if he would really be surprised, and travis seemed to think so. while they were golfing justin still thought he was going to lindsay's parents' house for a special birthday dinner.

he was pleasantly surprised when he walked into the pool hall a bit later.

times they are a'changin'.

travis woke me up this morning to discuss our plans for the day. he and justin were supposed to go golfing {it was justin's birthday gift to travis}. while we were talking he said, "so we're not going to see amelia at all this weekend?" i reminded him we were supposed to see her for the ballet and then plans had to change. we couldn't go today because justin's surprise birthday party was tonight, so we would have to schedule another time to see her. "that's weird" was his reply.

i thought it was super sweet and it also made me a little sad. travis's birthday is exactly one week before justin's. justin's birthday is one day before amelia's. {and now we have lindsay's 20 days before travis's, zach's one week before travis's, and our friends clay on the 17th and kate on the 22 ... but again, i digress}. for the past several years we've celebrated travis, amelia, and justin's birthdays all together in some form or fashion, while still celebrating with each person individually. it made me realize how much we've all grown and how different life is than it was even just a few months ago. this was also the first year that travis and justin didn't have a joint party together at the lears.

i think i miss the good ol' days.

happy birthday court!

today our friend court celebrated his birthday as well. we didn't get to celebrate with him and his family, but we were thinking of him all day long.

hope you enjoyed your special day, court!

love,

travis + rhiannon

happy birthday, amelia!

my bestest friend amelia turned 28 today! happy birthday love.

we had planned to see the sleeping beauty ballet in oklahoma city, but amelia's mom was in from indonesia. she didn't get to stay a terribly long time and her flight leaves early tomorrow morning. we didn't want to keep her out late, and i also didn't want amelia to spend the last few hours of her mom's visit to the states away from her. they decided to have a girls day in the city instead with laura, amelia, and grace, going to the art museum, lunching, and just celebrating the day. the weather turned out to be perfect for them, and when i talked to them it seemed like they were having a wonderful time.

i would have loved to spend the day with you, but am so glad you had such a wonderful time with such special women in your life. i love you!

i. hate. this. town.

weekends here are the worst. i spent friday evening on the verge of tears because i am so tired of being in this tiny, dingy, boring town.

i'm sure it was all of the different things that have taken place this week that caused me to feel so desperate, but i wanted nothing more than to be with friends anywhere other than this town.

any time i call amanda to hang out she says, "i'm hanging out with my friends tonight." {ouch}. justin and lindsay have their own set of friends here and always seem to be busy. and travis loves nothing more than playing pool.

so i sit around feeling sorry for myself, texting friends, and wishing for the day when we get to move again.

friday.

despite the announcement that sixbyte will be closing its doors, i woke up surprisingly cheerful today. the weather has been beautiful this past week, and i'm thrilled that spring is arriving.

travis and i got to work early at sixbyte. there is much to do and prepare {especially financials-wise} before the end of the month. i want to try and leave everything tied up as neatly as possible for this transition for christopher.

my mood and the weather convinced me that a silky, wrap spring dress was in order. i've mentioned before that my mom is always trying to convince me to wear dresses more often. i'm really not sure why this is such a sticking point with her. she always tells me i look nice even when i'm not in a dress {which is hardly ever} and other than sundays, i never see her in a dress. but i digress.

i pulled on aforementioned dress, threw on a pair of fabulous heels that i never get to wear, and headed outside ... into a torrential chilly downpour. how did i not know it was raining? it looked so pretty outside from my bedroom window.

i dried out on the drive to tulsa. it was raining even worse in tulsa than muskogee {but from what i hear, okc didn't really see any of it}.

i got inside and had just begun to dry out again when travis asked if i would make a breakfast sonic run. i complained about the rain so travis took his polo off for me to put on over my dress. david started laughing and offered me his waterproof jacket. i pulled on the jacket and headed back outside ... where the parking lot had become a pool. i took my shoes off half way to the car {water and light pink satin are really not a good combination} and ran barefoot the rest of the way.

when the lady delivered our food to the car at sonic she said, "i can't believe you're out in this weather."

"oh, you know, hungry boys."

"little ones?"

"um, no, my fiance, haha."

crazy look from the nice sonic lady. "well be careful out there."

when i got back to the office i threw my shoes in my bag, grabbed the food and drinks, and made a run for it. a lady was standing outside her office smoking.

"great weather we're having." {apparently when you're covered by the eve of the building, you don't mind making conversation with the barefooted girl who is running in the rain}.

"i know! isn't it crazy. i had no idea ..."

"where are your shoes??" {really? i'm standing in the rain, with no shoes, as she has obviously seen, but now is the time for inquiry}.

"oh, i had to take them off. heels. satin. not good for the water." {may i please go now}.

she must have decided, as the sonic lady had, that i was crazy, and she let me go without further questioning. by the time i made it back inside i was wishing i had ordered a coffee instead of my large diet coke with double vanilla.

i had to venture out one more time in the rain to meet kerry. i called my mom when i reached panera to tell her i was reminded exactly why i never wear dresses. =)

goodbye sixbyte.

yesterday christopher called the guys into the office to announce that sixbyte will be closing it's doors at the end of this month. everyone will be able to work through the end of april ... and then that's it.

i was a little taken aback to hear the news {i wasn't working at sixbyte on thursday, so i had to hear it second-hand from travis at the end of the day}, but not completely surprised christopher had made this decision. {our paychecks have bounced four times since christmas}.

i don't think travis or i either one know what to think about this. travis has grown weary of sixbyte and the drop in morale that comes with a business that is having such a difficult time. being without a job {for both of us now} is more than a little scary.

we've been talking about needed changes in our lives. we're definitely ready to be out of my parents' house. what started as a 5 to 6 month transition period while we were preparing for the wedding has now turned into a year-long move-in with my parents and sister. we're trying to be excited about this change and look at it as positive movement ... but as i said, we're definitely nervous about the uncertainty of the future, especially when it's a change that affects the livelihood of us both.

keep us in your thoughts and prayers as the next few weeks unfold.

making up for lost time.

since i found myself out of commission for the last four days, i had to work like crazy to complete the graduation order i was supposed to finish up this weekend. i spent tuesday, wednesday, and thursday working until about 2:00 in the morning so that all of the finishing touches would be in place and ready to deliver today. i whipped up a mocha latte in my mom's fancy schmancy coffee maker and was acting so silly by the time i dropped into bed last night. i know one day i'll look back fondly on these beginning times for notably noted {some day in the very far, far off future, but someday}.

i had lunch with kerry hope at panera bread so that i could deliver the invitations and announcements her sister had ordered for an osu graduation. we spent time catching up over salads and paninis.

her sister had given kerry a gift to give me. so sweet! i don't think i've ever had more thoughtful customers. the card they wrote me was just precious and made all of my hard work worth the effort.

happy birthday, j!

today my little brother turned 24. how on earth did that happen? hearing my own age weirds me out a little bit from time to time, but to realize that little boy that i grew up with is 24!! years old was very, very strange for me.

we're having a surprise birthday for him, so i offered to take him out for dinner tonight. he was already having dinner with lindsay and her family, though. it worked out because i had so much work to do on invitations. i would have liked to have seen him on his special day, though.

i love you brother bear!