Police Identify Victim In Tulsa's 36th Homicide Of 2011

Dee Duren, NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Tulsa Police are looking for information in the city's 36th homicide of 2011. A 43-year-old man was shot and killed after a fight with another man outside Tanzi Sports Bar, 3205 N. Peoria.

The victim has been identified as James Edward Knapper Jr. Police believe Knapper may have known his killer, and the two men were involved in an ongoing neighborhood dispute.

Just after midnight, an anonymous caller told police that a man had been stabbed at Soul Brothers Car Wash just south of the bar, and that witnesses were leaving the scene. When police arrived, they found a shooting victim instead.

Knapper was quickly taken to the hospital where he died of his wounds.

The suspect is described as a black male who is about 25 years old. He is 5'8" tall and weighs 180 pounds, according to Sergeant Dave Walker with the Tulsa Police Department.

Police say the weapon used was a small caliber handgun.

"Due to the lack of witnesses coming forward, there is little information on the motive or suspect description," Walker said in a news release.

It's the second time shots have been fired near the bar on a holiday weekend this summer. Two men were shot outside Tanzi's on July 3.

7/3/2011 Related Story: Two Injured By Gunfire Outside Tulsa Sports Bar

Anyone with information on the homicide is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS or the Homicide Tip Line at 918-798-8477.

Callers remain anonymous.