Sweeney homicide a contract killing, police say

BY NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
Thursday, June 04, 2009
4/05/11 at 4:45 PM

Audio: Listen to a Tulsa Police press conference back from September 2008 announcing rewards in the Neal Sweeney case.

Lost Lives: Neal Sweeney: Read archived stories involving the Neal Sweeney case investigation.

Affidavit: View a PDF of the affidavit in the Neal Sweeney case

A man 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, is accused of a fatally shooting Sweeney at his business, Retail Fuels Marketing, 3158 S. 108th E. Ave., on Sept. 4, court records state. Sweeney died the next day at a hospital.

Police Chief Ron Palmer said that detectives are still investigating who paid to have Sweeney killed, however the investigation has revealed that his death resulted from a dispute with someone Sweeney was doing business with.

“I want to emphasize at this time that this investigation is still ongoing. It is not over. We are continuing to pursue other leads and leads we that know 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.”

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

Sweeney was shot by a gunman whom police said appeared to be familiar with the office complex where Sweeney worked. He died the next day in a hospital.

“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.

Since that time, detectives have investigated hundreds of leads trying to determine a motive for the homicide.

In late January, detectives talked to someone who provided them with specific and 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.

On Feb. 4 , the van that police say the shooter was driving the day of the shooting was found at an apartment complex in Tulsa. That vehicle was processed for evidence, he said.

“Ultimately, it was determined the shooter or triggerman was Terrico Bethel,” Palmer said.

Based on what they know now, the Sweeney did not know Bethel, Palmer said.

According to an affidavit filed today in the case, an informant contacted police about the case in January. On April 6, detectives interviewed the informant, who ``relayed intricate minute details of the murder.''

The informant identified the killer as Bethel, states the affidavit, signed by Detective Victor Regalado.

On April 29, detectives interviewed a witness who had also talked to Bethel about the case, the affidavit states. Bethel allegedly told the witness that he had used a .38-caliber revolver to kill Sweeney, who was shot once in the head and did not die immediately, the affidavit states.

The affidavit quotes the witness as saying Bethel ``walked in to the business past a screaming lady in to Sweeney's office. ... Victim was sitting at his desk when he shot the victim.''

The affidavit states that police 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.''

Palmer said that there remains a $25,000 reward for information that helps police arrest the people responsible for Sweeney’s death.

Anyone with information about the homicide is urged to call or text-message Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS or e-mail police at tulsaworld.com/crimestoppersemail.

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

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Associated Images:

A Tulsa Homicide Detective composite drawing released in 2008, left, and 23-year-old Terrico Bethel, right. Tulsa World File

Mug shot of Terrico Bethel (pictured), suspect in the murder investigation of Neal Sweeney, at the Compstat Center, in downtown Tulsa. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World

Tulsa police chief Ron Palmer gives new details of their arrest of Terrico Bethel, suspect in the murder investigation of Neal Sweeney, at the Compstat Center, in downtown Tulsa. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World

Terrico Bethel, 23

Former TU football greats (from left to right) Howard Twilley, Steve Largent and Neal Sweeney pose before a round of golf at the Meadowbrook County Club back in 2002. Sweeney died after being shot at his business in 2008. MIKE WYKE/Tulsa World File

Homicide Detectives released a composite drawing back in 2008 of the suspect in last weeks homicide of Neal R. Sweeney. Tulsa World File

Sitting between Tulsa Police officer Jason Willingham and Sgt. Mike Huff, Bob Phillips talks about the increased reward money for information on yesterday's Sweeney murder, during a press conference at the police department back in 2008. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World File

Allison Sweeney Turner (left), Jan Sweeney and Sarah Sweeney Ivie plant hibiscus plants in the Global Garden at Eugene Fields Elementary School last month in memory of slain businessman Neal Sweeney. SHERRY BROWN/Tulsa World File