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“These people were executed. Not randomly shot and killed,” Brooke Arbeitman, a Bureau spokeswoman, said via text message. She added that the suspect, whose identity authorities are not releasing because they believe that may put additional individuals in danger, is “considered armed and dangerous.”
Deputies with the Kingfisher County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call Sunday about a hostage situation along North 2760 Road, west of Hennessey, when they arrived at the marijuana farm.
There were “several employees” present with the victims, three men and one woman, authorities said.
The suspect tried to kill a fifth employee, also a Chinese national; however the employee survived and was flown to a metro hospital to be treated for their injuries, according to the statement.
Families of the victims have not yet been notified due to a “significant language barrier,” police said.
The Kingfisher County Sheriff’s Office referred questions about the case to the State Bureau of Investigation.
Local television station KFOR reported that the 10-acre farm appeared to be a marijuana growing operation, quoting State Bureau of Investigation Capt. Stan Florence. State voters legalized medical marijuana in 2018.
The sheriff’s office requested assistance from the State Bureau of Investigation. Authorities spent Sunday and part of Monday going door to door and using helicopters and drones to search the farm, KFOR reported.
Florence told KFOR that investigators believe the killer and victims knew each other.
“Don’t know if they’re related, don’t know if they were co-workers, but, certainly these individuals, or we believe, all familiar with each other,” he said.
