Tulsa World: Video: Sweeney case breaks: 23-year-old charged with murder

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Video: Sweeney case breaks: 23-year-old charged with murder

SWEENEY
Tulsa Police Chief Ron Palmer stands with detectives Thursday as he announces that charges have been filed in the homicide of Tulsa businessman Neal Sweeney. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
Published: 6/5/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 6/11/2009 3:23 PM

A man who police say was the triggerman in the September contract killing of businessman and former University of Tulsa football player Neal Sweeney was charged with first-degree murder on Thursday.

Terrico Bethel, 23, of Tulsa is accused of fatally shooting Sweeney at his business, Retail Fuels Marketing, 3158 S. 108th East Ave., on Sept. 4, court records state. Sweeney died at a hospital the next day.

Bethel has been jailed since Feb. 27, when he was arrested on unrelated complaints that included drug possession and assault on a police officer, according to an arrest report.

Police Chief Ron Palmer said detectives are still investigating who paid to have Sweeney killed. The investigation has revealed that Sweeney's death resulted from a dispute with someone with whom he was doing business, Palmer said.

"I want to emphasize at this time that this investigation is still ongoing. It is not over. We are continuing to pursue other leads that exist right now that may lead to charges of other individuals," Palmer said.

"The warrant for Mr. Bethel this morning is not the end of the Neal Sweeney investigation."

Detectives interviewed Bethel on Wednesday, "at which time he admitted to the crime by confessing that he did it on behalf of other individuals involved in the crime," according to a police affidavit that was filed in Tulsa County District Court on Thursday.

Police did not disclose how much money Bethel allegedly was paid to shoot Sweeney.

Soon after the shooting, police said it was clear that Sweeney was shot by someone who appeared to be familiar with the office complex where Sweeney worked.

"At the time that it occurred, the initial motive for the crime was unknown, but from our experience it appeared to be a contract-type killing," Palmer said.

Detectives have investigated hundreds of leads trying to determine the motive. In late January, they talked to someone who provided them with specific, detailed information about the crime and the motive.

"At that time, it was determined that the motive was indeed a contract killing, and it was initiated over a business dispute over the sale of gasoline through Mr. Sweeney's company to other individuals," Palmer said Thursday.

On Feb. 4, the van that police say the shooter was driving was found at a Tulsa apartment complex. That vehicle, which police determined had been stolen in Muskogee two days before the shooting, was processed for evidence, he said.

A witness whom police interviewed on April 29 told them Bethel had talked to him in detail about the killing. Bethel allegedly told the witness that he used a .38-caliber revolver to shoot Sweeney one time in the head, according to a police affidavit that was signed by Detective Victor Regalado.

The witness said Bethel also described the scene of the shooting, including details about where Sweeney's office was located within the business, that Sweeney was sitting at his desk when he was shot and that Bethel walked past a screaming woman to get to Sweeney, the document states.

As far as police know, Sweeney did not know Bethel, Palmer said.

Bethel was convicted April 27 in connection with his February arrest and was awaiting transfer to prison when the murder charge was filed, Palmer said.

On his arrest report, police noted that Bethel was a member of the Neighborhood Crips and that his street name is "Life."

Police records also show that he has had frequent contact with the police and has previous convictions for false impersonation, resisting arrest and carrying a weapon.

Officers have served warrants and interviewed many people about the Sweeney homicide, they said.

"The detectives behind me deserve the gratitude of the citizens of Tulsa for working so hard on this case and bringing some closure to it," Palmer said at press conference while flanked by Homicide Unit detectives and supervisors. "They deserve our appreciation and credit for what is being done today."

A junior college All-American, Sweeney had been a standout wingback for the University of Tulsa in the 1960s. During his junior season, he was the third-best receiver in the nation, with 78 catches. He was a sixth-round selection to the NFL's Denver Broncos. He stayed with the team for one season before leaving the game.

Sweeney's family could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Crime Stoppers

A $25,000 reward posted by colleagues of Sweeney’s in the fuel industry is still offered for information that helps police arrest the people responsible for his death.

Anyone with information about the homicide is urged to call or text message Crime Stoppers at 96-COPS or e-mail police at tulsaworld.com/crimestoppersemail.

The Crime Commission offers an additional reward for information leading to arrests, and tipsters can remain anonymous.

Nicole Marshall 581-8459
nicole.marshall@tulsaworld.com By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Sweeney homicide a contract killing, police say," which was published on 6/4/2009.

	Report Comment Paperjunkie#1, (6/4/2009 9:11:54 AM) Hopefully they've made some progress on this one. Sounds like an organized hit to me. This was also before the big downturn. Interesting case.
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (6/4/2009 10:04:48 AM) I agree Paperjunkie#1. It is pretty sad in Tulsa that we have so many outstanding cases without resolve and the crimes continue to grow on a daily basis.
	Report Comment yep, Tulsa County (6/4/2009 10:24:44 AM) But Tulsa will have a really nice downtown ballpark and entertainment area! Hopefully there will be ball games scheduled on the furlough days the city employees will be forced to take so they can go enjoy themselves.
	Report Comment Better Than, (6/4/2009 10:25:42 AM) I just hope they have something to say worth listening to. For instance,the name of a suspect or he is currently in prison on another crime.
	Report Comment terryf, (6/4/2009 10:25:43 AM) Its tough for me to understand how they cannot find anyone in this guys associates that might have reason to do this or have this done. Just needs some serious hard investigative work done. I am out of a job and be glad to help. : ) Ilove crime satories and have a degree in reading crime novels. I also stayed at a holiday in n express last night.
	Report Comment Mr. Brown, Fallon, Nevada (6/4/2009 10:31:59 AM) He looks as high as a Georgia pine.
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (6/4/2009 10:32:40 AM) Well if that is him, it certainly does not look like the sketch.
	Report Comment BayouGirl, Owasso (6/4/2009 10:33:57 AM) terryf......thanks for the laugh.
	Report Comment hardball, (6/4/2009 10:34:41 AM) HE LOOKS BRIGHT ENOUGH TO HAVE TURNED HIMSELF IN FOR THE REWARD!
	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (6/4/2009 10:38:47 AM) I agree ArbyThree (hey that rhymes!). The sketch and the photo looks like to different people, especially in the mouth area.
	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (6/4/2009 10:39:21 AM) *two different people,
	Report Comment somewear, Yale (6/4/2009 10:49:17 AM) I think they should have let this guy get his nap out before the mug shot..... He's still asleep!!!! LOL
	Report Comment Cooldaddy, Broken Arrow (6/4/2009 10:55:59 AM) Cops forgot to give this guy some No-Doze.
	Report Comment vj, Kiefer (6/4/2009 11:02:38 AM) Arbythree, I like your comments, but I disagree (unless you were being sarcastic). I think if you throw a hoodie and some glasses on him it does look a lot like the sketch.
	Report Comment psychedelikrelik, Tulsa (6/4/2009 11:06:52 AM) I think it does, too, vj. Especially the squinty eyes.
	Report Comment QLC, (6/4/2009 11:07:06 AM) hey yep, get a life or a clue or whatever it takes to stick with a story rather than always saying the same old tired crap about the mayor.
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (6/4/2009 11:08:33 AM) Maybe my eyes are bad. Old ya know.
	Report Comment Ric, Broken Arrow (6/4/2009 11:12:02 AM) Is he familiar with the building were the crime took place?
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (6/4/2009 11:14:37 AM) There has got to be a ton to this story. Should be coming shortly.
	Report Comment Missy,,M, no thanks (6/4/2009 11:25:32 AM) yikes.
	Report Comment Prairie Tells, Sorta Catoosa (6/4/2009 11:28:20 AM) It does sound like a hit, but what else could be a motive for this? Terrible.
	Report Comment JLB, Tulsa (6/4/2009 11:41:44 AM) I guess except for the light skin, narrow eyes, narrow face, narrow lips, etc. the sketch does look like the perp. I think our police work very hard to handle the workload they have but the tip came in to them in January and they didn't interview the informant until April. That seems like an awfully long time in between, especially on such a "high profile" case. Maybe we just don't have all of the timeline information. It's going to be interesting to see who the "other individuals involved in the crime" are. I'll bet there is someone nervous right now. He'll sing like a bird. I wonder which other murder he committed.
	Report Comment nosey, Tulsa (6/4/2009 11:46:44 AM) Looking forward to hearing the rest of the story.
	Report Comment Webmeister, Tulsa (6/4/2009 11:53:24 AM) Good police work, TPD!
	Report Comment LocalBoy, B.A. (6/4/2009 12:03:47 PM) I'm glad to see the progress on this case but what opuzzles me is that the informant contacted police in Jan. and they didn't talk to him until April. Whassup wit dat?

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