The Tulsa Police Department has identified a homeless man in the fatal shooting of two Oklahoma men in April.
One was shot while he was at a local library and the other was killed minutes later at a QuikTrip convenience store.
Authorities are saying the assaults were racially motivated, but the state does not have a felony hate crime law.
According to a statement released by the TPD, Carlton Gilford, 61, is the sole suspect in the Tuesday, April 18 shootings of Lundin Hathcock, 35, and James McDaniel, 55. Both men were white, and Gilford is Black.
Related: 3 White Men Chase a Black Man Who Is Later Found Dead with Gunshot Wounds Next to a Dumpster; Judge Raises Questions About Hate Crime Charges, ‘Didn’t See Any’ Other ‘Reason for It’
The man, who allegedly had no connections to either victim, was arrested on Monday, April 24. Now, he faces two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of shooting with intent to kill, and one count of malicious intimidation or harassment.
Under Oklahoma law, hate crimes are codified as “malicious harassment based on race, religion, ancestry, national origin, or disability” and are misdemeanors.
“The information suggests that race played a role in it. I feel like that is something we can prove, and it is something that a judge or jury obviously needs to listen to. So, we will present that information along with everything else,” said Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler, according to KOTV 6.
Homicide detectives state Gilford shot Hathcock while he was sitting at a desk inside the Rudisill Library a few minutes before 10 a.m. He walked up behind the man and shot him in the back of the head. Then he shot him again.
Police say Hathcock was “rushed to the hospital in critical condition” before succumbing to his injuries.
Gilford was able to escape authorities after the shooting and make it a few blocks away to the QuikTrip where he allegedly claimed another…
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