Officials seek details in business shooting
Crime: Former Tulsa football star, gasoline company's president is in critical condition
Tulsa police investigate ex-player's shooting
By Tony Thornton
Published: September 5, 2008
TULSA — The president of a wholesale gasoline business was shot and critically wounded in his office by a man who remained at large Thursday night.
Advertisement
Motive unclear, police say
Ashley said the gunman wore a gray or black hoodie pulled over his head. A witness described him as black, 5-foot-10 or 5-foot-11 and between 18 and 25 years old. He was last seen driving a white Chevy cargo-type van, Ashley said.
McSpadden said Sweeney entered surgery about 1 p.m. to have a bullet removed from his brain.
Investigators aren't clear on a motive. Ashley said detectives will investigate several possibilities, including whether the shooter targeted his victim, and if so, why.
Retail Fuels Marketing sells gasoline, mainly Shell brand, to independent retailers. According to a 2004 industry newsletter, the company sells 30 million gallons a year.
Sweeney became the company's president in 2003, when it merged with Fastop Stores of Tulsa. Before that, he was a vice president of Fuel Managers Inc., also of Tulsa.
Police and a witness to the shooting said the company's office at 3158 S 108 East Ave. has about four employees.
Maribeth Goben, who works next door at a wine spirits broker, said she heard two gunshots, followed by a woman's screams.
Goben said from her desk, she saw "a man run down the stairs into the van ... right outside the window.”
Toolbar sponsored by: David Stanley Ford


