TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Police in Tulsa say the shooting death of a man in a city park is believed to be connected to a crime spree that included armed robberies, the theft of a pickup truck and a carjacking.
Homicide Detective Sergeant Dave Walker says three suspects are in custody Thursday after a man's body was found in Mohawk Parkon the city's north side Wednesday.
The man has been identified as Wilmer Flores.
Jennifer Lopez, 18, Alejandra Santoyo Guzman, 20, and Jose Dejesus, 19, were all arrested on complaint of first degree murder, two counts of robbery with dangerous weapon and kidnapping.
Walker says Flores is believed to have been killed because his brother is suspected of stealing a truck.The suspects are believed to have gone to the victim's apartment in search of his brother and the stolen truck, then abducted and killed the victim.
Jillian Smittle of Edmond and her partner, Kara, were in Mohawk Park Wednesday picking out a wedding venue when they saw Flores fall to the ground.
“We heard a gunshot and my partner thought that you could hunt out there,” she said. “He looked like he was passed out on the side of the road, we could only see his back. She walked over to him, and it was obvious he was dead.”
Walker said the shooting was cold-blooded.
“I don't think there's anything in our constitution that allows you to kidnap the brother of the person you're mad at and kill them to get your stuff back,” he said.
The suspects are also believed to be from Houston, TX and have committed a carjacking at gunpoint and several armed robberies.
“We got enough problems in Tulsa without bringing the Houstonites here to wreak havoc. So I'm glad they don't get to go back home,” Walker said.
Now the search is on for Flores' brother who allegedly stole the black Ford Raptor.
“His involvement in the kidnapping is not real clear, his involvement in the murder is not real clear, but he definitely didn't call us and say 'hey this is what's up.' So take that for what it's worth,” said Walker.
Meanwhile, Smittle says the wedding will go on, but the day won't be the same.
“I wouldn't wish that on anyone, especially a family going to a park,” she said. “Parks are for people with happy events, a place where you can come together, not a place where you do crime scene investigations.”
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