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Unruly crowd gathers at standoff


Members of the Tulsa Police Special Operations Team team bring in an armored
vehicle as they surround a murder suspect barricaded inside the Morning Star
Apartments complex late Saturday. SHERRY BROWN / Tulsa World
Members of the Tulsa Police Special Operations Team team bring in an armored vehicle as they surround a murder suspect barricaded inside the Morning Star Apartments complex late Saturday. SHERRY BROWN / Tulsa World

By JEFF BILLINGTON World Staff Writer


Police surrounded a north Tulsa apartment Saturday night attempting to take a murder suspect into custody.

Units from across the city were called in to help disperse a large crowd that had gathered, with some in the crowd reportedly throwing rocks and firing a weapon toward police and others near where the suspect had holed up.

The suspect, Rico Starks, 18, barricaded himself inside an apartment at the Morning Star Apartments, 2201 N. Hartford Ave., at about 7 p.m., refusing to comply with police demands that he surrender.

Officer Scott Walton couldn't confirm reports about rocks being thrown and shots being fired from the crowd, but KOTV, channel 6, cameraman Dominic Armstrong, who was in the middle of the melee when it began, said he was standing next to a vehicle that was hit by shots fired from the crowd. He also said several people in the crowd grabbed a reporter from another television station by her hair and threw her to the ground.

Police wouldn't confirm who was holed up in the apartment, but the suspect's grandmother, Lucretia Lewis, who had driven from Dallas, confirmed it was Starks. She said he was alone in the apartment, but didn't know if he was armed or not.

"I had tried to get him out. We talked to him, trying to talk him into giving himself up," Lewis said. "I came here to talk to him, and they won't let me."

Starks was charged in early Febru5 ary with second-degree murder in the slaying of Mark Jordan, 18.

In January, a charge of shooting

with intent to kill was filed against Starks.

Additional police, some wearing riot gear and carrying batons, were called from other districts to help deal with the crowd, which numbered about 200. The Special Operations Team and armored personnel carrier, along with the department's helicopter, were also dispatched to help with the situation.

Walton said the additional officers were needed to help secure a perimeter around the apartment complex and provide security for officers attempting to get Starks to surrender.

"Early on, there was a lot of chaos, and we didn't know what we had," Walton said.

By 11 p.m., police had established contact with Starks and were negotiating for his surrender.


Jeff Billington 581-8369
jeff.billington@tulsaworld.com


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Comments
Butch M, Tulsa (3 years ago)
Typical Mexicans - stop illegal immigration!
Kevin, Tulsa (3 years ago)
Nice Comment, these were not Mexicans. This was one of the finer North Tulsa Projects. To bad the tear gas wasn't there yet.

To these idiots that want to be hudlums in the crowd, you wanna shoot?? Here's an idea we will sand your sorry butt to Iraq, then you can shoot all ya want

Jim J, Cincinnati (3 years ago)
You can cite illegal immigration allday, but it is the African community that demonstrates lawlessness.
Kevin, Tulsa (3 years ago)
Jim, I strongly disagree. Color had nothing to do with it. The mentality of those in that area, ate the age (teens) tht were out there are nothing more then uneducated thugs. There are many older Black, American Indian, Hispanic, etc folks that live around there that are hard working and law abiding. This is a result of Gen X parents not giving a crap about raising thier children and letting them run amock.

I am FAR from racist so that comment struck me wrong.

These kids need to be taught a harsh lesson in reality, they think they are hard when the drive by and shoot thier glocks sideways like in the movies. As I said before I have the solution. Gather all these lawless youth up that like to shoot at peole, put them on a c-130 to baghdad. This way you solve the whole problem of not having enough troops. Although carjackings and crack sales may go up in Iraq.

Eddie, Fort Legg (3 years ago)
Shots fired from the crowd? Nation of Islam and NGE's will stop at nothing to kill us all.
Keith, (3 years ago)
You all ought to be ashamed trying to hide this story that was on CNN. I live in Arlington, TX and saw the coverage last night. When I pulled up your web site I figured it would at least be the top story. But no, it was hidden after a gun shop story and the Transok loft project. I shouldn't be surprised...whenever anything that gives the appearance of "gang related" behavior erupts we sure don't want to give that much coverage...it might tarnish the wonderful picture others have of our city or worse yet....we might lose some convention or tourist business. Oh No!! Get the thugs off the streets!
Keith, (3 years ago)
You all ought to be ashamed trying to hide this story that was on CNN. I live in Arlington, TX and saw the coverage last night. When I pulled up your web site I figured it would at least be the top story. But no, it was hidden after a gun shop story and the Transok loft project. I shouldn't be surprised...whenever anything that gives the appearance of "gang related" behavior erupts we sure don't want to give that much coverage...it might tarnish the wonderful picture others have of our city or worse yet....we might lose some convention or tourist business. Oh No!! Get the thugs off the streets!
E.T, tulsa (3 years ago)
I don't care what color you are, if you are throwing rocks or shooting at police, the police should shoot them. I have no sympathy for people interfering with police work. the police have enough problems dealing with a murder suspect without having to worry about idiots throwing rocks or shooting at them. And I don't care how old they are. where are the teens parents?
JoeJoe, Chicago (3 years ago)
So what race were the rock throwing jerks?
BOB, Tulsa (3 years ago)
Hey, why do you continue to hide these type of stories and put froo froo "love labs" BS on your home page.
Billy Bucktooth, Two Egg (3 years ago)
Do you really have to strain your brain to figure out what lawless crowd of jackasses these rock-throwing/potshot taking devils of despair were? They love chaos and hate peace. They are Legion...and they are idiots...
Confused, (3 years ago)
You've got to be kidding me. the World was in no way "hiding" this story. CNN and all the other "24 hour news" stations scour the country to find the most dramatic crap they can. The reason it is front page CNN is they are just trying to capture $$$$ from viewers. Use your brain.
gene gallagher, ardmore (3 years ago)
we are looking to move to tulsa or ft worth area,being okies we would love to stay in ok.we have researched both areas,we will choose texas,I cant believe the crime in a smaller city like tulsa,seems when something happens the media tryies to deflect coverage to something else,sure the larger cities in texas have problems,but they seem to air them in public and try to find solutions. We are from a small town in southern ok and had visited tulsa several times and love the lay out of the city,due to safety concerns for my family we will go south
Justin, Lakeport (3 years ago)
Of course they're Eskimos, silly.
JC, Waterford, MI, formerly of Tulsa (3 years ago)
Gene, the Morning Star Apts. in north Tulsa have been an entire series of issues since before I moved north to work back in 1990. (I'm back in Tulsa several times a year to visit family). There are many other parts of Tulsa that don't have those issues, so don't paint the entire town of 300-odd thousand on the actions of a few in one distinct area.
Tim , Tulsa (3 years ago)
I'm amazed that Tulsa is just now within the last few mos. started to address the issue of inner city crime at a time when the BOK center is being built,the issues should be resolved before they come to a head.What are the local Churches,Youth Ctrs,and other so called organizations,doing about it? nothing, and I mean nothing is heard about what is being done until tragedy happens,the only action that is seen is in-action,crime is big buisness why bust it up.News orginazations use it for gaining more revinue dollars,Churches gain more members and get more money thinking this will resolve issues and leave it to the Church.Stop taking tax dollars for solutions that just dont work! Police have there hands full and need no more of it.Programs very seldom work and you can program a problem to death and it just won't go away.Time for the National Guard and the Mayors Acion commitee to take action now!Time to take real control now, every program has had its chance,now get off your BUTTS ! Give the Police a break.Give Tulsa a little relief Sounds to tough TOO BAD!! The clock is ticking ......... time is running out
Larry Chaplin, Sherman, TX (3 years ago)
I have visited Tulsa many times, one of the most beautiful, cleanest cities I have seen in our country. My aunt lived most of her adult life in Tulsa and my maternal grand parents lived in Jenks for about 40 years. They warned my mom and myself to stay OUT of north Tulsa as they live through the unfortunate race riots back in the 1920's. The Tulsa World and community leaders are sticking their collective heads in the sand in regard to the imminent dangers of future race riots but reversing the races the next time. Something has to be done to reverse the alarming percentage of under educated, underemployed young black males that major in sports ignoring the basic subjects like math, the Queen's English, science and other essential school subjects so necessary to suceed in the business world. Having grown up in San Angelo, TX in the 1940's and '50's we had a rather small percentage of blacks and very little crime problems.or racisim They integrated our schools my senior year of 1955-56 with NO rancor or discord. The black high school was much newer and in much better condition compared to our ancient "whites only" high school. Too many young black males major in sports disregarding the essential core subjects like math,the Queen's English, science, etc. Also they have an appauling percentage of being incarcated for serious crimes far above their census population. The last statics I read showed that 30-40% of young black males are in jail, state & federal prisons, on parole or probation compared to the other ethnic groups like whites, latinos and asians. I feel there could be another series of 1920's race riots only this time with reverse consequencies. If something is not done and soon by all of us I am afraid one day our country will elect a president that will come up with a "final solution" to the black crime problem ala Adolph Hitler, Heinrich Himmler to the present deplorable situation in the Darfur region of the Sudan where the arabs are burning villages, raping women and young girls and making life miserable for the black Christian population. Lastly far too many babies are being born to teenage girls by irresponable males of all races. With birth control easily available even free from most city/county health departs, Planned parenthood, etc. it is dooming by the mother and children to lives of poverty, poor paying jobs, etc.
Jim, Tulsa (3 years ago)
And they wonder why there's discrimination!!
North Side Resident, Tulsa, Oklahoma (3 years ago)
Ok, I live on the north side of Tulsa, Oklahoma. I have lived here in tulsa for 10 years now. I have lived on 8th & Lewis and Now I live north Denver. For starter's I am glad the Tulsa Police Department is kicking the crimianl's butt here in Tulsa. The Tulsa police department is doing the best they can with what they have. So don't point no finger's at the Tulsa Police Department. The City of Tulsa is looking at several different problem's.

I want you to think about this. On the north side there is a problem. The problem is the North side community, the neighbor's, The parent's, The Welfare system, Corrupt Law Enforcement, The Great state of Oklahoma, The United States.

In the last 20 years the United states has crippled the family in many ways. They said you can't spank your children. Well, I feel you need to do what you have to do when dealing with your children. Not abusing them. Making them accoutable. So now we can't spank our kids. Ok then the state give's us Welfare. Yea! Free money, food, & such. The parent's get lazy. When You Give Peopel handout's they get lazy. Lazy in their lives, lazy with their children - I will continue later.

VIC, (3 years ago)
It is time the law abiding citizens take back Tulsa from the criminals. Parents of all races need to keep control of their children, instilling discipline and respect for all races. We need to teach them it is not only their right to work, but their obligation and not to expect handouts. We continue to make excuses for poor behavior. There is no acceptable excuse. The Mayor needs to give the police all the support and weapons they need to send the gangs packing. I would gladly pay additional taxes in order to rid Tulsa of these gangs.
Tim, (3 years ago)
this is interesting to say the least. Tulsa is in the heart of Indian territory, where, according to Treaty of Washington 1836, the Cherokee own the land, never to be surrounded or encompassed by States...a nation unto itself. Wonder what happened there??I do not see the Cherokee Nation having problems like this, but I do see others in their land causing these problems....
Dreamiah, Tulsa (3 years ago)
Hello everyone I am a 16 years old black girl and I'm from North Tulsa and I grew up with the crowd of kids that were involved with this account, and yeah they were all wrong and out of line but that's besides the piont. I am a child and I 'm so embarrassed by some of your comments. We live in the 21st century race shouldn't be an issue, nor should the area, because those are just excuses!!!! What are you teaching your child?
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