By Josh Dulaney
The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY — In what authorities called “a reign of terror,” in south Oklahoma City this week, a 37-year-old man shot and killed his pregnant girlfriend and a stranger before stealing a car and leading police on a chase that ended with officers killing him.
On Tuesday morning in the 5100 block of Brookdale Drive, Brandon Milburn was involved in a physical altercation with his 23-year-old girlfriend, Shatica Hixon, when he shot and killed the woman, who was nine weeks pregnant, police said.
Hixon’s body was discovered around noon when the homeowner came home.
The homeowner called police, and when investigators arrived, they learned that the pair’s 14-month-old daughter, Zyla Milburn, was missing.
An Amber Alert was issued for the toddler.
Investigators later learned that Brandon Milburn dropped the girl off with relatives in southwest Oklahoma City.
The relatives were taking the girl to family in Texas when they received the statewide Amber Alert and went to the Love County Sheriff’s Office.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol assisted relatives and took the girl into protective custody. Police said the girl was unharmed.
Oklahoma City Police Capt. Daniel Stewart said Thursday the family was “trying to do the right thing.”
Following the homicide on Brookdale Drive, Milburn stole a white pickup truck from a business near May Avenue and SW 104 around 10:40 a.m.
Authorities said the truck was equipped with GPS.
Stephen Christopher Huskey, a 34-year-old employee of the business from which the truck was stolen, tracked and located the truck, which was parked and empty in the 2500 block of SW 95.
As Huskey drove up to the truck, Milburn appeared and fired a weapon at him, authorities said. Huskey drove down the street, crashed into a tree and died of his injuries.
Milburn left the second deadly scene and drove the stolen truck to the area of May Avenue and SW 104, where he abandoned the vehicle.
Around 11:30 a.m., Milburn robbed a male juvenile at gunpoint and stole his gold Toyota Avalon, which he later abandoned near May Avenue and SW 122, authorities said.
Police searched the area but could not locate Milburn. Tipsters told police Milburn was in southwest Oklahoma City, but there was no confirmation he was there.
Police later learned Milburn was driving a silver Toyota Prius. At 4:07 a.m. Wednesday, police attempted to stop Milburn at May Avenue and SW 104.
Milburn led officers on a chase that ended in deadly gunfire at Couch Drive and Lee Avenue near police headquarters in downtown Oklahoma City.
Authorities say in the gunfire exchange, Milburn was killed.
A bullet struck the protective vest of officer Zach Barby, who has served in the Oklahoma City Police Department for about 18 months, authorities said. Barby was treated for his injuries at a local hospital and released.
Stewart, the police spokesman, said the deadly spree was a “reign of terror” in southwest Oklahoma City, and while authorities didn’t have information that Milburn was going to harm anyone else, “the potential was there.”
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide Tip Line at 405-297-1200.
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