After Double Murders, Leaders Urge Witnesses To Cooperate With Police

Community leaders are coming together as Tulsa police work to solve a double murder that left a man and mother of two dead. Those leaders are asking the community to work with law enforcement to help solve crimes.

Two children witnessed the murders early on Tuesday – a 5 year old and a baby.

Although Friday’s news conference was scheduled before the shooting, state leaders say the crime reminds all of us why we’re all responsible for protecting the community.

In many criminal cases similar to the one that took the lives of Meshawna Jones and Markey Goff, witnesses don't always come forward.

They often are afraid or don't trust the police, and as cases pile up, the strain between the community and police intensifies.

6/15/2016 Related Story: Stop The Violence News Conference Addresses Tulsa Crime

To better help the community police relationship, the Tulsa police and Tulsa county Fraternal Order of police are working with Oklahoma State Senator Kevin Matthews' Urban Innovative Development Corporation.

It's a summer program geared toward providing teenagers access to constructive summer activities. Through programs like it, Matthews hopes it'll help improve relationships.

"We cannot stand by and allow this violence to continue so if anyone knows anything about the person we think may have done this, they need to come forward,” state senator Kevin Matthews said. “We need to work with law enforcement. We need to work with community members We need to work with our elected officials to get the information forward because we cannot afford to lose another life."

In response to the shooting, another level of protection will be private security.

Matthews says he's speaking with business owners who can help fund it.