TULSA — A community is stunned to hear about a person losing their life in such a busy area.
A man was found dead at a storage unit facility in south Tulsa Thursday night near 71st and Mingo.
The victim may have fallen on hard times, which brings light to a bigger issue - how to address homelessness along a busy corridor like 71st Street.
But local business owners are frustrated about the problem.
"There's nothing that we can do and that's the frustrating part for me as a human because I want to see them get help," local business owner Kim Koch said. "But also as a business owner, this is affecting my business."
Reverend Steve Whitaker of the John 3:16 Mission says this problem isn't new.
"We outreach weekly," Rev. Whitaker said. "Sometimes three or four times a week that corridor along 71st, starting at Memorial going all the way to Mingo."
Rev. Whitaker says his group is prepared to help everyone.
"The numbers prove that we'll produce another 6 to 7,000 homeless people in Tulsa in 2019," Rev. Whitaker said. "Now, I hate that notion, but it's a fact. So we've got to be prepared for that and do our very best in a compassionate, caring, giving way."
Tulsa Police couldn't say how the man died, but they confirm that his death was accidental and is not being investigated as a homicide.
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