Task Force Searches For North Tulsa 'Random Shooter'

Tulsa Chief of Police Chuck Jordan and other city leaders spoke at a news conference Saturday afternoon to discuss the fatal shootings that took place in Tulsa overnight Friday.

Standing at a podium at the police station, Jordan said to the shooter, who is still at-large, "We're coming for you."

Jordan said the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office will combine to form "Operation Random Shooter."

Thirty investigators will be a part of the task force dedicated solely to tracking down the shooter, Jordan said.

He stressed the task force needs help from the community, because tracking down a "lone wolf suspect" who acted alone can be a challenge.

"But we are up to that challenge," he said.

"We are all of one mindset, to find this person, arrest them and put them behind bars, and anyone that's associated with them," Mayor Dewey Bartlett said at the briefing.

Police call the string of mysterious shootings unprecedented and are urging caution. The random attacks left three people dead and two injured, all within a 5-mile radius. The victims range in age from 31 to 54.

There's little information known about the suspect. Chief Jordan said one of the surviving victims was able to tell them that a white man in an older model white truck approached him then shot him.

All of the victims are black, and since the only suspect description is a white man, many are left wondering if this is a hate crime.

4/6/2012 Related Story: Tulsa Police Identify Victims In 'Unprecedented' Shooting Spree

"It's a very logical theory, but there's no evidence at the time to support it," Jordan said.

"There's been no racial slurs. We haven't arrested anybody yet. It's just not time for us to say that. Right now, I'm more worried about three of my citizens being murdered."

Jordan said there are substantial commonalities in the shootings, which led police to believe they are related. He cited the time frame, the geographic area and other ballistic evidence, which lead to one person.

The gun appears to be a small caliber, Jordan said, but the OSBI will conduct further testing next week.

"We'll do whatever it takes to bring the shooter to justice," Jordan said.

The shootings happened in Councilor Jack Henderson's district. He says nerves are frayed for many living in the area since this killer is still out there.

"To know that you can't walk down the street at night in your own neighborhood," the councilman said. "That's a terrible shame. That's a terrible feeling. No one should be subjected to that.

"This is Tulsa, Oklahoma," Henderson said. "We should have the ability to stand out on your porch anytime, day or night, that you want to."

This is the message he has for people in the community: "We need to put aside whatever you think about your inability to be able to talk to the police department. We're working together," said Jack Henderson.

Call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS if you can help police. Someone will be manning the phone 24/7.