Man Kidnaps Ex-Wife, Shoots Her Boyfriend, Tulsa Police Say

A man was arrested Thursday morning after police say he kidnapped his ex-wife and shot her current boyfriend. 

The shooting happened just down the road from where police arrested the suspect, Eric Thomas. 

Police said Thomas, 50, and his ex-wife went to a home located near 22nd and Yale shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday.

They said Thomas got out of the car and fired several shots through the front door, and that's when his ex-wife seized the opportunity to escape. 

That's how he eventually ended up here, in handcuffs, at the Walmart at 21st and Yale.

"Any time you have the potential individual that has demonstrated that he will harm someone, the main goal is to keep him from harming anyone additionally," said Officer Leland Ashley. 

It all started at a home in Broken Arrow Thursday morning when Broken Arrow police said were called to the home for a welfare check around 5:30 a.m. 

"When officers get to the residence, they quickly find out that no one's there," said BAPD Officer James Koch. 

Tulsa police said that's because Thomas kidnapped his ex-wife, and drove her to her boyfriend's home. 

Officers said Thomas got out of his truck and fired shots into the home, hitting the boyfriend several times.

Police said that's when the ex-wife jumped into the driver's seat and escaped to Walmart.

Officers said he followed her there and when police arrived, the woman was inside and the suspect was back in his truck.

"We locked down the Walmart, he was sitting in the vehicle, he began cutting himself," said TPD Capt. Brad Clark. 

Officers took him into custody immediately.

Jim Swafford has lived in the neighborhood for 17 years...

"My wife heard the sirens," Swafford said. "She sits out here and drinks her coffee on the porch, and she saw the police cars heading in that direction. That was the very first thing."

He said a crime like this, is shocking to the typically quiet area.

"I check the crime statistics frequently, and we just don't have much. So yeah, it was unusual," Swafford said. 

Thomas remains in the Tulsa County jail.

Thomas's ex-wife and the shooting victim both went to the hospital where his condition is said to be critical. Both are expected to survive.

Thomas was treated for his injuries then taken to jail. He was booked on complaints of shooting with intent to kill and pointing a deadly weapon with intent.

His bond was set at $95,000.