Sweeney | Tulsa World

On the morning of Sept. 4, 2008, a gunman wearing sunglasses and a hooded shirt pulled up over his head entered Retail Fuels Marketing, 3158 S. 108th East Ave., and quickly walked past several employees to the office of the company's owner, Neal Sweeney.

Without saying anything, the gunman shot Sweeney in the head.

Sweeney, a beloved father and former University of Tulsa football player, died the next day.

Police say the resulting investigation unraveled a murder-for-hire plot that led to charges against five accused conspirators. One defendant has since committed suicide, and four men face trial in the Sweeney slaying.

Headlines

Convicted killer in Neal Sweeney case requests new trial, claiming jury misconduct 2/3/2013

One of three men convicted at separate Tulsa County trials of murder and conspiracy in the Neal Sweeney case has requested a new trial, based on allegations of misconduct in the jury deliberating room.

Key informant in Neal Sweeney murder released with suspended sentence 1/30/2013

A key prosecution witness in the Neal Sweeney murder case was released from the Tulsa Jail on a suspended sentence Tuesday.

$Last defendant in Sweeney murder trial sentenced to 32 ½ years in prison$ Last defendant in Sweeney murder trial sentenced to 32 ½ years in prison 1/23/2013

The man who instigated the plot to kill Tulsa businessman Neal Sweeney was the focus of the case's closing chapter Tuesday.

Sweeney killing: Judge rejects juror intimidation concerns, hands down 2 life terms 1/5/2013

A Tulsa County judge who found no basis to question jurors regarding conduct in the deliberating room sentenced a convicted murderer and conspirator to two life prison sentences Friday.

Lawyer wants to investigate juror harassment in Neal Sweeney murder trial 1/4/2013

The lawyer for a man who is scheduled to be sentenced Friday in the Neal Sweeney murder case is asking for time to research allegations that a juror was threatened and intimidated by other jurors during deliberations.

Juror in Neal Sweeney murder case claims intimidation during deliberations 1/3/2013

In a letter to the judge, a juror says she was ridiculed and intimidated by other jurors into voting with them to convict Alonzo 'Jack' Johnson of murder.

Conspirator found guilty in Tulsa murder-for-hire of Neal Sweeney 12/13/2012

A third man was convicted of murder and conspiracy counts Wednesday in the Neal Sweeney murder-for-hire case.

Prosecutors in Neal Sweeney murder rest their case 12/12/2012

Tulsa County jurors will deliberate on Wednesday the fate of Alonzo 'Jack' Johnson on murder and conspiracy counts linked to the killing of Tulsa businessman Neal Sweeney.

Neal Sweeney murder case: Talks of fatal conspiracy heard on jail phone recordings, prosecutors say 12/8/2012

Tulsa County jurors on Friday heard recorded telephone calls from jail - made the day before Neal Sweeney was shot - that prosecutors contend show communications in a murder conspiracy.

Neal Sweeney trial: Murder solicitor says he met suspect on fatal morning 12/7/2012

The man who admits to paying to have Tulsa businessman Neal Sweeney killed testified Thursday that on the morning of the murder, a man whom he did not know told him to ''watch the news.'

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Key Players

THE VICTIM
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Neal Sweeney
The 63-year-old was shot in the head at his business during the morning of Sept. 4, 2008. Prosecutors allege that a hitman was hired to kill Sweeney — a prominent Tulsa businessman, former University of Tulsa football player and community leader — over a business deal.

THE PROSECUTOR
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Tim Harris, DA
The Tulsa County District Attorney and his office filed the first charge on June 4, 2009 — eight months after Sweeney’s death. A total of five people have been charged in the ongoing murder-conspiracy case.

THE INVESTIGATORS
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Sgt. Mike Huff
As supervisor of the Homicide Unit, Huff has led the investigation into Sweeney's homicide. Huff has investigated homicides in Tulsa for more than 30 years.

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Detective Vic Regalado
Regalado has been a case investigator in the Homicide Unit for seven years. Along with Detective Jeff Felton , Regalado has investigated many angles in the Sweeney homicide. Their work has led to charges against five people in the murder conspiracy case.

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Detective Jeff Felton
Felton was a Crime Scene Investigator for three years before becoming a case investigator in the Homicide Unit 11 years ago. Along with Detective Vic Regalado, Felton has investigated many angles in the Sweeney homicide. Their work has led to charges against five people in the murder conspiracy case.

THE ACCUSED
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Mohammed Aziz
The 58-year-old is accused of instigating and facilitating the murder-for-hire plot, allegedly agreeing to pay $10,000 for a hitman to kill Sweeney. Court documents indicate that Sweeney’s business obtained a $238,368.72 default judgment against Aziz in May 2008 for gas sold at his store.

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Terrico Bethel
The 25-year-old is accused of being the triggerman in Neal Sweeney’s shooting. Bethel was jailed within nine months of the shooting and has remained in jail ever since.

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Alonzo Johnson
The 39-year-old allegedly helped facilitate payment for the Sweeney killing. Johnson is charged with conspiracy to commit murder, two charges of knowingly concealing stolen property and possession of a firearm, among other charges and complaints.

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Fred Shields
He was charged for his alleged role in recruiting a hitman. Fred Shields Jr., 37, Allen Shields’ brother, is in jail on the Sweeney murder charges and was convicted of second-degree murder in 1995 in a 12-year-old girl’s death. He was also a suspect in connection with the 2000 Osage County homicide of Raymond Lee Knox Jr. but has not been charged in that case.

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Allen Shields
He pleaded guilty to the murder conspiracy and struck a deal with prosecutors to testify against the alleged co-conspirators. Prosecutors alleged that Shields helped facilitate payment for the killing. Shields, 34, was found dead Tuesday morning after reportedly shooting himself during a police standoff that involved an 11-year-old girl as a hostage.