How city police caught a break in dancer's death
How city police caught a break in dancer's death

By Augie Frost

Published: August 5, 2008

Vanessa Swaissi's friend heard the "racking” of a gun. A struggle ensued. Swaissi and her friend tried to escape.

One man said "cap her” and moments later the 25-year-old Swaissi lay on the street bleeding from a bullet wound.

The details of Swaissi's death last Thursday were given by her friend and quoted in an arrest warrant filed Monday by Oklahoma City police.

Police arrested Nicco Barnett, 18, and Laverie Franklin, 21, who were hiding under a pile of clothes in an apartment at 3634 N Lottie on Saturday.

They were in the Oklahoma County jail Monday on a first-degree murder complaint, according to police.

The witness in the car identified Barnett as the shooter. Charges were not filed Monday.

The friend, who is not identified in the affidavit, said she was the passenger in Swaissi's car when the shooting occurred on NE 63 near Broadway Extension.

Swaissi's ex-girlfriend, Shannon Ford, said the passenger was Swaissi's current girlfriend. Ford said Swaissi's girlfriend told her what happened.

Swaissi, an exotic dancer, met one of the alleged gunmen while dancing at Fantasy Island, Ford said.

He had been introduced as "LV” and had agreed to buy a "car stereo/video monitor” for $250 from her, according to the arrest warrant. Several times the two talked on the phone, according to the report.

Thursday, Swaissi and her friend went to meet the accused gunmen at a gas station near NE 63 and Broadway Extension.

One of the men said they were suffering from the hot weather and asked for a ride. The friend was nervous about helping the strangers, telling police "she didn't know either suspect and didn't feel comfortable giving them a ride,” according to the report.

But when Swaissi came out of the gas station after paying for fuel, she agreed to give the pair a ride, according to the report.

As the four drove away, the men pulled a gun and demanded all the women's belongings; the girlfriend tried to stab the men with a knife she had found in the car, according to the report.

The car pulled to a stop in a driveway and the two men tried to get out.

One said, "Cap her,” and the trigger was pulled, according to the report.

Swaissi died in her girlfriend's arms about 4:30 p.m., Ford said.

The gunmen ran from the scene. Police were able to identify the two suspects by tracking the cell phone "LV” apparently called Swaissi from, the report said.

The person who introduced Swaissi and "LV” identified the two gunmen. An anonymous caller also identified the two gunmen as "LV” and "CAP O.”