Tulsa Police: Driver Shot In Head, Car Hits Corner Cafe

Tulsa Police say a car crashed into a restaurant Friday morning after the driver was shot in the head.

The Mazda RX-8 hit the Corner Cafe at 53rd Street and Peoria Ave. as it turned about 4 a.m.

EMSA took him to the hospital in critical condition and by late Friday afternoon TPD said he was in grave condition.

Police said the cafe sustained only minor damage but the crash destroyed the car. The restaurant was closed at the time of the crash.

Police said after the man hit the side of the restaurant, it was about 40 minutes before anyone saw him and called 911.

At first, officers thought it was just a car wreck, but then they saw a bullet hole in a back window.

Police say the driver, Stephen Moran, 45, hit the building about 3:20 a.m and someone called 911 around 4 a.m.

Officers say they didn't find the gunshot right away because the window popped out on impact.

"It looks like it came from the right rear window into the car and into the body at that point," TPD Sgt. Dave Walker said.

They said Moran had recently become homeless and had several contacts with police in the past two weeks in the wee morning hours.

"He had been contacted by police, scrapping and dumpster-diving to make ends meet," Walker said. "There was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. It was late and he was out and about."

The car he was driving was not his, but perhaps a relative's or a former roommate's.

They also believe Moran might've been struggling with a drug problem and said they will be checking with area casinos, motels and other areas to see if they can retrace his final steps in hopes of finding someone who wanted to do him harm.

"I don't know we have a random case, I'm not ready to start with that," Walker said. "Hopefully, as we get into the investigation, we'll answer that question."

Tulsa Police are now leaving door hangers in neighborhoods where crimes happen, urging people to call Crime Stoppers if they saw anything, heard anything or know something that might help.

They explain how Crime Stoppers keeps callers' identities secret.

If you know something that will help police in this case, call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS.