A man who is said to be of Cherokee ancestry was arrested in connection with the killings of three African-Americans in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Jake England, 19, is due to be charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the shooting deaths of three African-American men. The men were killed in three separate shootings on Friday.
England may have been motivated by revenge, authorities said. According to news reports, he posted a message on
Facebook on Thursday about his father's death on April 5, 2010.
A man who was considered a person of interest in the case is African-American, The New York Times reported. The man was not charged with England's father's death and is serving time for another crime.
“If anybody is trying to say this is a racial situation, they've got things confused,” Susan Sevenstar, who said England is Cherokee, told the Associated Press. “He didn't care what your color was. It wasn't a racist thing.”
England also faces two counts of shooting with intent to kill in connection with attacks on two other African-American men in Tulsa.
Alvin Watts, 32, who is said to be England's roommate, will face the same murder ang shooting charges.
Get the Story:
Two arrested in north Tulsa shootings that claimed three lives
(The Tulsa World 4/9)
Two arrested in shootings of black people in Oklahoma
(The Los Angeles Times 4/9)
Arrests in Shootings End a Terrifying Weekend in Tulsa
(The New York Times 4/9)
2 arrested in Tulsa shootings; revenge possible motive
(AP 4/8)
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