Tulsa mother wakes to news of sixth-grade son's shooting

BY ZACK STOYCOFF World Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
5/23/12 at 7:58 AM

Michelle Sigli's oldest son shook her awake Sunday night with news that should not have been true.

Her younger son, a 13-year-old who had told her that he was headed to an evening church service, was shot about 10:20 p.m. after going instead to a friend's party at a sports bar.

A drive-by shooter's bullet hit him in the chest almost as soon as he stepped onto the parking lot, Tulsa police said.

"The victim was just someone who happened to be stepping out of the car when the shots went off," Sgt. Dave Walker said.

Jordan Sigli, a sixth-grader at Emerson Elementary School, died early Tuesday at OSU Medical Center after multiple surgeries, family members and police said.

"I can't believe this," Michelle Sigli said. "I thought he was going to Greenwood (Christian Center) with a friend. I told him to be back before curfew, and he said, 'OK, Mom.'

"The next thing I know, I'm waking up and my oldest son's telling me that Jordan's been shot."

Police said a friend's mother was dropping Jordan Sigli off in the parking lot of Tanzi Sports Bar, 3205 N. Peoria Ave, for a 17-year-old's birthday party when at least one shooter in a passing car opened fire on a crowd that had gathered outside.

The woman then drove him to the hospital, Walker said.

Although no one else was hit, police said they had no evidence that he was the target. It was more likely to be someone in the crowd who had some connection to the shooters, Walker said.

Investigators were not ruling out gang activity.

"I would say that it's disheartening that we have a 13-year-old shot and killed so needlessly so soon after school was out," Walker said. "It's awfully young."

The last day of school was Friday, and family members said Jordan had been particularly excited about summer break this year.

"I don't know how I'm supposed to go on without my baby," Michelle Sigli said. "I have three other children, but I just want him back."

She said family members rushed to the hospital after the shooting and were there until doctors told them about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday that he had died.

Janet Phipps, Jordan Sigli's grandmother, said he showed in his final hours the same strength that he showed his entire life.

He wanted to be a mechanic and was well-liked for his maturity, persistence and friendliness, family members said.

"He fought until the end," Phipps said. "He did at one point open his eyes and reach his hands out. We thought he was getting better, but he was losing blood as fast as they were giving him blood."

Jordan was with friends in the hours before the shooting, according to a boy who said that he was in the car with him.

The boy said the mother of another passenger drove them to the bar along with two other children, all of whom believed that they were attending a "regular party" rather than a birthday party.

Three of the boys stepped onto the parking lot before Jordan fell to the ground, bleeding, he said.

"I saw nothing, really - just a lot of blood and the car speeding down the road," the boy said. "He said, 'I've been shot.' "

Walker said it appeared that the sports bar had been rented out for the party and that its bar was closed, but added that "we're trying to solve a murder. We don't really get into the (alcohol) licensing part."

An Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission spokesman said the agency began an inquiry into the business after the shooting.

"We're just trying to get all the information we can from the Tulsa Police Department," Capt. Kent James said.

The only way the bar could have allowed minors inside is if it had notified ABLE at least 10 days in advance that it planned to host a private party, he said.

ABLE's Tulsa office had no record of such notification, but it was not immediately clear whether notification had been sent to the commission's Oklahoma City office, he said.

The bar's liquor licence is valid until July 22, and ABLE has no record of prior problems with the business, James said.

Michelle Sigli said she's more focused on finding her son's killer than blaming the bar.

Walker said police found numerous shell casings at the scene from two different guns, leading investigators to believe that there were multiple shooters.

Witnesses reportedly told investigators that the shots came from a '90s-model Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis that sped by on Peoria Avenue.

The witnesses described it as gold or tan and said the left blinker looked like it was missing or damaged and that the driver's door might have also been damaged, police said.

Police believe the shooters borrowed the car from someone who might not know that it was used in the drive-by attack.

"As a parent, I would want the person who killed my son to be caught and punished for what they've done," Michelle Sigli said. "I just want him back."

Anyone with information about the shooters or the car are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS or contact the Homicide Tip Line at 918-798-8477 or homicide@cityoftulsa.org.

Tipsters can be anonymous and a cash reward is offered for information leading to an arrest.

Original Print Headline: Mother wakes to news of son's shooting

Zack Stoycoff 918-581-8486
zack.stoycoff@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Jordan Sigli: The 13-year-old was shot in a drive-by attack outside a bar. His mother thought he was going to church.

Janet Phipps (left), grandmother of slain 13-year-old Jordan Sigli, and Jordan's cousins Destiny Jones and Desmond Cousino and brother Dajuan Sigli gather outside the Sigli home Tuesday. Jordan died early Tuesday of injuries sustained in a Sunday night drive-by shooting outside a sports bar. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World