TULSA, Okla. — A defendant and key witness in a Tulsa murder case has been found dead after taking an 11-year-old girl hostage and an hours-long standoff with police.
Officer Leland Ashley says the body of Allen Shields was found inside a north Tulsa home about 12:50 a.m. Tuesday — nearly an hour and a half after he released the girl unharmed. Ashley said Shields confronted the girl and her mother about 5:30 p.m. Monday but allowed the woman to leave.
Police say they heard gunshots inside the home shortly after the girl was released about 10:30 p.m.
Shields pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy in the September 2008 shooting death of Tulsa businessman Neal Sweeney. Prosecutors say the killing was a murder-for-hire plot and Shields was to testify against the other defendants.
