Town of Sallisaw Recovers from Shootings

Monday, October 28th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The town of Sallisaw is recovering after a weekend shooting spree. A teenage boy shot nine people over the weekend, killing two, in a shooting spree that seemed to start when someone told the teenager to stop speeding through a neighborhood.

Police say 18 year old Daniel Fears' first target with a 12-gauge shotgun was the neighbor who'd confronted him about speeding, Greg Kaufman. Kaufman's daughter got caught in the crossfire.

Kym Koch, OSBI: "A stray bb from the blast hit Kaufman's two year old daughter in the neck."

Kaufman and his daughter both survived.

Officers say Fears then shot two neighbors. Patsy Wells died, her husband, L.B., lived. They say Fears also shot and killed Reba Spangler, a customer at a car lot and wounded the car salesman.

Jason Torric, Car Lot Manager: "I actually looked at him in the 10 seconds to his car, he was methodical, didn't look sad, like he was performing a job."

Fears then shot both Ernest and Sharon McMann who were at a statuary shop, then, shot a man who was sitting at an intersection, then, a woman who was walking with her two young children.

Linda Dutton, Shooting victim: "I turned and fell and my kids were yelling Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!"

Police later arrested Fears after a brief chase and crash. People who know Fears were shocked.

Trish Pillington, Knows Suspect: "Scary that it could happen in a small town."

Dean, Knows Suspect: "There's always some people in school that you think could be capable of doing something like this, but, not him."