Tulsa Grandmother Not Target In Deadly Drive-By Shooting

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- There's new information about a deadly weekend drive-by shooting that killed a 61-year-old grandmother while she was asleep in her bed.  Tulsa Police say Wiletta Patrick was not the intended target, but is an innocent victim.

"These cowards came up in the middle of the night and fired multiple shots into a house that was dark because everybody was asleep," said Tulsa Police Sgt. Mike Huff.

Wiletta Patrick's house was shot full of bullets.  What makes the situation worse is that police suspect it may have been some of her family members who brought the violence to her doorstep.

The News On 6 uncovered Tulsa County court documents on Monday showing that Patrick tried to get some of her family members out of her house four years ago.

Wiletta Patrick was a dedicated Tulsa Public Schools employee for 24 years.  Her family says she was known for opening her heart to others and also her home.

08/29/2009  Related Story: Tulsa Grandmother Killed In Drive-By Shooting

"We haven't found anybody who had a bad thing to say about this lady. We don't think she was the intended target. We think someone who frequented her home was the target," said Tulsa Police Sgt. Mike Huff.

Four years ago, Patrick went to small claims court to try to get some family members removed from her home on East Woodrow Place.  They included her brother, Arlington Haney, II, his wife, Brenda Haney and a Christopher Meeks.

Records show her brother, who has previous convictions involving stolen property, had been charged with felony drugs just a few weeks before she filed the paperwork.  Records also show Brenda Haney, who goes by several names, also has drug related convictions.  Meeks had a conviction just two years ago.  He was not in the home at the time of the shooting and police do not believe he is connected to it.

They never showed up for court so the judge said they should leave Patrick's home, but police say she'd let her brother and some others back in the house recently.

"There may be some people who came by her house or hung out that she didn't necessarily care for that brought that danger to that home," said Tulsa Police Sgt. Mike Huff.

Tulsa Police say they look at this case similar to the one last year where dozens of shots were fired into a car of four young men, one was killed and another paralyzed.  They too, were innocent victims.  That case was one of mistaken identity.

Sgt. Huff says he knows the community is sick of the senseless killings and will call with information.

"These cowards that we're looking for, someone is going to call in on them and we'll make a case on them," said Tulsa Police Sgt. Mike Huff.

Tulsa Police want people to know the Crime Stoppers tipline will be answered 24 hours a day and they will follow up on every lead.

The number, 596-COPS, is answered in Canada, so it is totally anonymous and cash rewards are given through a secret code system.