CONTINUING COVERAGE

Good Friday Shootings in Tulsa

Overview: On Good Friday, April 6, 2012, a string of killings occurred in north Tulsa that left three dead and two injured.

Jake England, 20, and Alvin Watts, 33, are each being held at the Tulsa Jail and are accused of three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of shooting with intent to kill and a single complaint of possession of a firearm while committing a felony. Their bond totals exceeded $18 million.

Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris will seek the death penalty against England and Watts.

England and Watts were arrested at 1:47 a.m. Sunday, about 48 hours after police began discovering multiple gunshot victims in a three-mile area of north Tulsa.

The shootings have attracted media from across the country, including correspondents for the New York Times, CBS, NBC’s "Today" show and CNN.







HEADLINES
Trials scheduled for Good Friday shooting defendants

Trials scheduled for Good Friday shooting defendants   4/24/2013

A Tulsa judge scheduled separate trial dates in 2014 on Tuesday for two men who are charged with murdering three people on Good Friday last year.

Separate trial dates set for Good Friday suspects

Separate trial dates set for Good Friday suspects   4/23/2013

They are accused of shooting five black people at random at four north Tulsa locations on April 6, 2012, which was Good Friday.

Separate trials in Good Friday shootings likely

Separate trials in Good Friday shootings likely   4/20/2013

Tulsa County prosecutors now acknowledge that the two defendants in the Good Friday triple-homicide case should be tried separately.

Murder defendants in Tulsa's Good Friday shootings want separate trials

Murder defendants in Tulsa's Good Friday shootings want separate trials   4/11/2013

Both defendants in the Good Friday triple-homicide case want to be tried separately, not jointly, because of the likelihood of mutually antagonistic defenses and other factors, according to defense attorneys.

Tulsa religious, community leaders gather in remembrance of Good Friday victims

Tulsa religious, community leaders gather in remembrance of Good Friday victims   3/31/2013

Tulsans gathered on Saturday to show that love is stronger than hate.

Despite Good Friday shootings last year, Tulsa tried to come together

Despite Good Friday shootings last year, Tulsa tried to come together   3/29/2013

On his way to meet with local media, Jesse Jackson called the mayor and asked him to come along.

Good Friday shooting survivor moving on

Good Friday shooting survivor moving on   3/29/2013

Shooting victim Deon Tucker is a man of few words.

Improving race relations theme for Unity Day service

Improving race relations theme for Unity Day service   2/16/2013

Tulsa remains a city divided by race, according to a group of pastors and leaders involved in an upcoming Unity Day service to seek racial reconciliation.

Defendant in Good Friday shootings seeks separate trial

Defendant in Good Friday shootings seeks separate trial   1/12/2013

'Mutually antagonistic' defenses in the Good Friday triple homicide make separate trials necessary for Jacob Carl England and Alvin Lee Watts, a court document filed on behalf of Watts states.

Lawyer challenges death penalty in Good Friday case

Lawyer challenges death penalty in Good Friday case   1/10/2013

Lawyers for one of two defendants who are charged with murdering three people in Tulsa on Good Friday filed court challenges Wednesday to a death-penalty request and to the sufficiency of the evidence presented at a preliminary hearing.

Attorneys file challenges to death penalty request for Good Friday shooting suspect

Attorneys file challenges to death penalty request for Good Friday shooting suspect   1/9/2013

Lawyers for one of two defendants charged with murdering three people in Tulsa on Good Friday filed court challenges Wednesday to a death penalty request and also to the sufficiency of the evidence presented at a preliminary hearing.

District attorney to seek death penalty in Good Friday shootings

District attorney to seek death penalty in Good Friday shootings   1/5/2013

Tulsa County prosecutors filed notice Friday that they will pursue the death penalty for two men who are charged with murdering three people on Good Friday.

District Attorney will seek death penalty in Good Friday shootings

District Attorney will seek death penalty in Good Friday shootings   1/4/2013

Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against the two people accused of killing three people and injuring two more on Good Friday last year.

Top 10 local stories for 2012

Top 10 local stories for 2012   12/31/2012

Three people died and two others were injured in a shooting spree that threatened to spark racial tensions. American Airlines' bankruptcy and wildfires near Mannford were also big stories.

Top story for 2012: Good Friday shootings

Top story for 2012: Good Friday shootings   12/31/2012

A few days before Christmas, the national office of the NAACP called to ask how Tulsa was dealing with the aftermath of the Good Friday shootings, eight months ago.

Good Friday shooting suspect to stand trial on unrelated assault charge

Good Friday shooting suspect to stand trial on unrelated assault charge   12/28/2012

A man who already faced trial on three counts of murder in Tulsa's Good Friday shootings was bound over for trial Thursday on a separate charge of assaulting a detention officer.

Prosecutors seek another delay in Good Friday shootings case

Prosecutors seek another delay in Good Friday shootings case   11/21/2012

Tulsa County prosecutors who are evaluating the possibility of pursuing the death penalty are again seeking to postpone arraignments for two men who are charged with the Good Friday shootings of five people, court records show.

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VICTIMS
Dannaer Fields, 49; Bobby Clark, 54; and William Allen, 31, suffered fatal gunshot wounds in three separate shootings and were found within three miles of each other on the morning of April 6. Fields' body was found in the 1000 block of East 51st Place North, two blocks east of Hall and Tucker.

David Hall, 46, and Deon Tucker, 44, were found with gunshot wounds in a yard in the 1300 block of East 51st Place North at 1:06 a.m., police said. They were taken to two different hospitals and have been treated and released.
TIMELINE


Friday, April 6

1:03 a.m.
Tulsa police are called to 1000 block East 51st Place North where 49-year-old Dannaer Fields is found in a yard with gunshot wounds. She is pronounced dead at St. John Medical Center.

1:06 a.m.
Officers find two surviving shooting victims in 1300 block East 51st Place North.

1:50 a.m.
EMSA treats and transports shooting victim Bobby Clark, 54, from 300 block West 63rd Street North. He is pronounced dead at Hillcrest Medical Center.

8:30 a.m.
William Allen, 31, is found dead in front of Jack's Memory Chapel, 801 E. 36th Street North.

4:43 p.m.
Detectives release the names of the shooting victims and a limited suspect description.

5:30 p.m.
Sgt. Dave Walker addresses the news media and reveals the shootings were being investigated as parts of a spree.

7:30 p.m.
Meeting about the shootings are held by Tulsa's NAACP chapter at North Peoria Church of Christ. The Rev. Warren Blakney expresses concern that someone was evidently "targeting black people to shoot."

Saturday, April 7

8 a.m.
Police receive first Crime Stoppers tip regarding 19-year-old Jake England; local police request assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

3 p.m.
Tulsa Police Department at a news conference announces the formation of a joint task force known as Operation Random Shooter. Chief Chuck Jordan asks for the public's help.

6 p.m.
Osage County sheriff's deputies find England's burned Chevrolet pickup near 61st Street North and Osage Drive.

7 p.m.
Approximate time the task force begins surveillance of England and Watts.

Sunday, April 8

1:47 a.m.
Jake England, 20, and Alvin Watts, 33, arrested.

3:57 a.m.
Police alert the media arrests were made in Operation Random Shooter.

5:21 a.m.
Watts booked into Tulsa Jail.

6:37 a.m.
England booked into Tulsa Jail.

3 p.m.
Police discuss the arrests of Jake England and Alvin Watts at a news conference.

April 9

England and Watts tell police they each committed two of the shootings, according to arrest reports. A judge set each man's bail at $9.16 million on three complaints of first-degree murder, two complaints of shooting with an intent to kill and one complaint of possessing a firearm while in the commission of a felony.

Wednesday, July 18

Witnesses in a preliminary hearing testify that England described how he lured victims closer and then shot them. They also testify that Watts described how he and England engaged in a game of who could shoot the most people.

Aug. 14

Tulsa County Special Judge David Youll bound Jacob Carl England and Alvin Lee Watts over on five felonies — three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of shooting with intent to kill.

Aug. 17

Tulsa County District Judge Kurt Glassco, the prospective trial judge in the Good Friday triple-homicide hate-crime case, denied a request that he disqualify himself from the case. Attorneys for Jacob Carl England can continue to pursue the matter by filing a document and presenting it to Glassco, seeking his disqualification or a transfer of the case to another judge.

Sept. 5

Tulsa County District Judge Kurt Glassco, the prospective trial judge, has withdrawn from that role. Glassco transferred the matter to Presiding District Judge William Kellough, who assigned District Judge James Caputo to the case.

Jan. 5, 2013

Tulsa County prosecutors file notice that they will pursue the death penalty.