Tulsa Police Seek Leads In 2 Unsolved Murders Linked To After-Hours Club

Tulsa Police Homicide investigators have solved more than 50 murder cases in the last 12 months, but two cases that happened a week apart remain open. Nicari Owens and Terrence McElwee were shot and killed exactly a year ago this week in unrelated shootings, both tied to the same after-hours club.

Investigators say both murders are linked to what used to be the Kickback Club. Terrence McElwee was shot and killed after leaving the club, and Nicari Owens was shot a week later inside the club. Investigators say they have a good idea of what happened but need evidence.

"Obviously you get pulled away by the newer, fresher murders. These have been difficult. We are trying different stuff, you never give up on them,” said Lieutenant Brandon Watkins with Tulsa Police Homicide.

Investigators say McElwee had just left the Kickback Club and was the passenger in a car going south on Highway 169 when another car pulled up next to them and someone inside opened fire. McElwee was shot in the head and died.

"We think this one probably originated out of Muskogee, beef between some Muskogee people, possibly gang members, and unfortunately he got killed here in Tulsa,” said Watkins.

Police say just a week later, 19-year-old Nicari Owens got into an altercation inside the same club, shots were fired, and Owens was killed.

"A lot of witnesses were there, a lot of people out, but so far we haven't found many people willing to show some intestinal fortitude and help us out with this. There's been a lot of people just not wanting to get involved and not wanting to do the right thing,” said Watkins.

Watkins says open cases like these can be frustrating, but they are committed to solving them, and sometimes it's a marathon, not a sprint.

"We are looking for evidence. We get people who give us names. We get the word on the street; it always comes back to us pretty quickly, but we need evidence. We can know who did it. Without evidence, we can't move forward,” said Watkins.

If you have information that could help investigators, call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS.

Related Coverage:

1. Family Of Man Killed In Highway 169 Shooting Calls For Justice
2. Man Killed In Shooting Along Tulsa Highway Identified By Police
3. 19-Year-Old Killed In Tulsa Nightclub Shooting, Police Work To Identify Suspect