Wake to be held tonight for slain Oklahoma City University student
Arrest warrant issued in shooting that killed 19-year-old

Bradley Wahnee’s goal was to help improve the health of his people, American Indians.

The 19-year-old Oklahoma City University student was studying biology in a premedicine program. He was the 2008 Comanche Nation high school graduate of the year, who earned a scholarship to OCU and said he wanted to be a radiologist.

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FUND ESTABLISHED

A memorial fund has been established for Bradley Wahnee. Contributions can be made to the Bradley Wahnee Memorial Fund at any BancFirst location.

Police search for suspect

An arrest warrant has been issued in connection with the shooting death of Oklahoma City University student Bradley Wahnee, 19. Police are looking for 19-year-old Angel Yasser Hernandez, shown above, who is described as a Hispanic male, 5 feet, 7 inches tall and 185 pounds. He may be driving a former Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. utility pickup that is orange-colored with a black hood and front end. Anyone who spots Hernandez should call 911. He is considered armed and dangerous, police said.

Tuesday night, in the front yard of a house at 3226 NW 30, gunfire ended his life.

"It makes no sense to me any time a young person’s life is cut down,” said Clint Normore, OCU’s multicultural student director. "I’m still asking why.”

Kari Wahnee said Thursday her son was an innocent victim of gang violence.

Oklahoma City police issued an arrest warrant Thursday afternoon for Angel Yasser Hernandez, 19, of Oklahoma City in connection with the shooting.

Kari Wahnee said the gunman was among a group who showed up wearing hoodies and bandannas.

"The circumstances are suggestive of gang-related activity,” she said.

Police would not confirm a tie to gang activity.

Bradley Wahnee was shot at the home of Rogelio Saavedra, 19, a friend he made when he attended Northwest Classen High School, she said. Saavedra also was shot; he remained at OU Medical Center Thursday in good condition.

About 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wahnee was standing with Saavedra outside Saavedra’s home on NW 30 near Independence Avenue, working on a car. Police said a group of people pulled up in what looked like a former Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. utility pickup. Someone got out of the pickup and started firing.

Hernandez may be driving the same pickup, police said Thursday. The arrest warrant states Hernandez left his home wearing all black Tuesday and has not returned home.

Bradley Wahnee’s grandfather, the Rev. Bill Foote, is pastor of Mary Lee Clark United Methodist Church at 1100 Howard Drive in Del City, where a wake is planned for 7 tonight. A funeral is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at Mt. Scott Kiowa Church in Lawton.

OCU is offering rides to students who would like to attend the funeral, Normore said.

"He was just a warm spirit, very giving,” said Normore, who met him in 2008 and interviewed him in the scholarship application process.

Levi Blaine, 20, a junior at OCU studying public relations and an American Indian Scholarship recipient, said he got to know Wahnee during a retreat.

"I really couldn’t believe it because he was such a good kid and just working on a car. If that’s the case, he didn’t have a chance.”

Students are handling the death "as best as they can,” Blaine said.

"You’re never really ready to handle this. You hear about shootings on the news but you really can’t prepare for how you will react,” Blaine said.

Mary Lee Clark United Methodist Church member and trustee Robert Koon remembers Bradley Wahnee helping his grandfather move his belongings into the church parsonage when Foote became pastor about two years ago.

Koon worked Thursday to get the church ready for the wake.

Bradley Wahnee’s body will be viewed at the church starting at 4 p.m.

Wahnee, a 2008 graduate of Elgin High School, was the type of person Normore wanted at OCU, he said.

"He meshed with our mission which is community-service oriented,” Normore said.

Kari Wahnee said her son told her he was inspired by her career as a physician’s assistant. He was of Kiowa and Comanche descent.

She said her faith is helping her cope.

"We’re Christian people with a very strong belief that this is God’s plan for Bradley and we’ll be reunited with him,” his mother said. "His spirit is with us and that is what sustains us.”

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