Drifter charged over third fatal shooting in Oklahoma

SALLISAW — A drifter was charged Wednesday in a third fatal shooting in Oklahoma after a bullet comparison tied him to an El Reno man's death.

Stacy Lee Drake, 50, now faces three first-degree murder counts in Sequoyah County District Court.

He was arrested June 20 in Morrilton, Arkansas, after a manhunt. He was charged the same day with murder in the fatal shooting of two employees of LaFerry's Propane near Gans, Oklahoma. The victims were identified as Tara Underwood, 35, and Taylor Sharp, 30. They were gunned down inside the business June 18.

Prosecutors amended the existing case Wednesday to charge Drake with murder in the fatal shooting of Phillip Emerson in El Reno. He also was charged with robbery for allegedly taking a 1994 pickup truck from Emerson.

The victim in El Reno was 56. His son found his body inside his home June 14.

More: 'Armed and dangerous' man Stacy Lee Drake in custody after manhunt, Oklahoma homicides

"We will be considering all potential punishments including the death penalty," Sequoyah County District Attorney Jack Thorp said.

Drake became a suspect in the fatal shooting at the propane business from a review of surveillance video. He was seen going inside, leaving and driving away in one victim's vehicle, according to a court affidavit.

A senior criminalist with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation identified bullets recovered from Emerson's skull and Taylor's skull "as being fired from the same firearm," according to the affidavit. The pickup taken from Emerson in El Reno was found about four miles from LaFerry's Propane.

Drake was charged in Sequoyah County, rather than Canadian County, because he is accused of engaging in a pattern of criminal offenses.

"Oklahoma law allows every crime from a defendant's pattern of criminal offenses to be prosecuted in any county where those crimes were committed," Thorp said. "This man's senseless and violent actions have affected people across the state."

Drake also is accused in Alabama of killing Alcoholics Anonymous counselor Russell Andrews, 62, on or about May 14. A murder warrant for his arrest in that death was issued May 15.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Drifter charged over third fatal shooting in Oklahoma