Tulsa Detectives Continue To Investigate Businessman's Death

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The killing of Tulsan Neal Sweeney has been unusual from the first. The former TU Hall of Famer's death was a murder for hire, according to Tulsa Police. Now the case involves hidden microphones, failed polygraphs and other possible suspects.

In court Monday, three men were mentioned in connection with Sweeney's murder.

That has many viewers of The News On 6 asking -- Who are these men? What role did they play? Why haven't they been arrested?

Records show after Neal Sweeney was gunned down in cold blood in September of 2008, a career criminal named Fred Shields, who was facing a federal drug charge, told Tulsa police he knew the name of the gunman.

But, Shields failed a polygraph, admitted he had lied, then gave them another name, Terrico Bethel, but once again, failed a polygraph.

Police asked Bethel, who was in jail on something else, if he knew why Shields would name him.

Records reveal Bethel admitted he knew Shields but, nothing else.

They say Bethel went back to jail and told his cellmate he was afraid Shields had squealed on him.

The cellmate was Dolan Prejean who said Bethel admitted he did the murder and that Fred Shields, a guy named Jack and Mohammed Aziz were involved. The cellmate, who is also a career criminal and facing his own charges, told police about the so-called confession, but they were skeptical.

So, records show police hooked Prejean up with a wire, he went back to his cell and within six minutes, had Bethel talking about the case on tape.

Prejean testified Bethel admitted Mohammad Aziz paid him $5,000 to kill Sweeney because Sweeney's business had sued Aziz over an unpaid fuel bill at Aziz's convenience store.

The News On 6 went to the store to ask Aziz about that. He denied being upset by the lawsuit or being involved.

• Lori Fullbright, The News On 6: "So you don't know Prejean or Jack or Fred Shields or Terrico Bethel?"
• Mohammed Aziz: "No."
• Lori Fullbright, The News On 6: "Why do you think Bethel said you hired him?"
• Mohammed Aziz: "Don't know, don't have a clue."
• Lori Fullbright, The News On 6: "So you didn't have anything to do with Neal Sweeney's murder and don't know why these three people would throw down your name?"
• Mohammed Aziz: "No, don't have a clue."

Mohammed continues to run his business while homicide detectives continue to investigate other suspects.

"The citizens of Tulsa can feel confident we're going to do our best to get those who hired Terrico Bethel to kill Neal Sweeney," said Det. Vic Regalado, Tulsa Police Major Crimes.

As for Shields, he's now serving 35 years in federal prison.

The News On 6 has learned Jack is Alonzo Johnson, an ex-con who now runs a repair shop in Broken Arrow.

None of the three men have been arrested or charged in connection with Sweeney's murder. Police are preparing an affidavit they'll send to the D.A.'s office on Thursday.

The News On 6 has learned more about the cellmate, Dolan Prejean. Prejean's father was Tookie Williams, a big time leader of the Crips in L.A. who was convicted of murder, then nominated five times for the Nobel Peace prize for writing anti-gang, anti-violence books and executed in 2005.

11/2/2009  Related Story: Man To Stand Trial In The Murder Of A Tulsa Businessman