TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa police said gang rivalries may be the motive behind the death of a former McLain High School graduate.
Police said several men followed Anthony Jackson into the Hood Food Store in north Tulsa on January 17th, 2004.
Then someone shot him multiple times in the head and left him to die.
Tulsa Police Homicide Lt. Brandon Watkins said the shooter had no respect for life when he followed Jackson inside the store that day.
“I think the clerk at the time thought he (Jackson) might have come in there just to get away from somebody and that person just followed him in,” said Watkins.
Police said it appears Jackson’s death may have been gang-related, and at that time, this type of shooting was par for the course.
“Apparently, Tulsa was in the middle of some sort of gang violence epidemic at the moment that had broken out,” said Watkins.
Despite numerous witnesses including the store clerk, police never developed a good suspect.
2 News asked Watkins if he believed it had something to do with the no-snitch rule.
“That no snitch rule really falls apart for the most part. Usually when somebody gets in trouble and they have some information to trade, the no snitch thing is tossed out the window and people want to help us out to help themselves out,” said Watkins.
According to his obituary, Anthony Jackson was a member of the Greater Union Baptist Church and graduated from McLain High School in 2002.
Tulsa police say just about a week after Jackson's death, another shooting took place near where he lived, and they believe it is tied to his death.
If you have any information regarding the death of Anthony Jackson, call Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS.
Go even deeper into cold cases in Green Country with our podcast. New episodes drop in Fridays.
