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.

The victim was identified as Neal Richard Sweeney, 63, a star wingback for the University of Tulsa football team in 1965 and 1966.

Tulsa police officer Leland Ashley said the gunman walked past a receptionist at Retail Fuels Marketing and into an office, where he shot Sweeney.

Sweeney was struck at least once in the head at 9:29 a.m. on Thursday and later was reported in critical condition at a Tulsa hospital.

Sweeney was a board member last year for the Oklahoma Petroleum Marketers Association, said Vance McSpadden, the association's executive director.

"Good friend. Very good to our industry. I just haven't been able to think about anything else” since learning of the shooting, McSpadden said. "It could happen to anybody.”

In 1965, Sweeney was an honorable mention All-American after finishing third in the nation in receiving, with 78 receptions for 883 yards and eight touchdowns. He finished his two-year career at TU with 134 receptions for 1,623 yards and 11 touchdowns.

After his senior year, Sweeney played one season with the Denver Broncos of the old American Football League.

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.”