TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa Police Department arrested Deonte Crump after the fatal shooting at Woodland Hills Mall on Dec. 26.
According to the affidavit, the girlfriend of the victim, KJ Love, was walking into the mall when she got into an altercation with an unknown man at the door. She told him she was going to get her boyfriend KJ and return with him to deal with the argument, court documents said.
When KJ exited the mall, he confronted the unknown individual who was waiting for him by the front door and attempted to hit him. The suspect drew a handgun and shot KJ in the face before leaving the mall, according to the affidavit.
Officers arrested Crump at a home near 51st and Memorial on Dec. 28.
Crump is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm while under DOC supervision.
Authorities took Love to the hospital, where he died due to his injuries.
Tulsa police Capt. Richard Meulenberg said shoppers did exactly what he'd recommend —running, followed by hiding.
"We don't want people to freeze," he said. "Do something. Work past that trigger in your brain to say, I have to do something here. People by and far did that."
Capt. Meulenberg said TPD is trained to assume incidents like this could have been an active shooter situation, which explains the mass officer response Dec. 26.
"You can imagine how a gunshot at a mall is going to echo. People are going to be very concerned," Meulenberg said.
Woodland Hills Mall reopened on Dec. 27.
Woodland Hills Mall released this statement about the incident:
“The Tulsa Police Department indicated that this was an isolated incident stemming from an altercation between two individuals outside a mall entrance. We are grateful for the quick response of the Tulsa Police Officer stationed in the center, mall security as well as the broader support of the Tulsa Police Department and other responding agencies. While Tulsa Police also indicated there is no ongoing threat, there will be a heightened law enforcement presence at the property.”
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