Despite High Murder Numbers, Tulsa Police See High Solve Rate

<p>In just under a year, 61 people have been murdered; five of those have been here in Tulsa in a little over one week.</p>

Monday, October 17th 2016, 10:59 pm

By: News On 6

Despite High Murder Numbers, Tulsa Police See High Solve Rate

In just under a year, 61 people have been murdered; five of those have been here in Tulsa in a little over one week.

There is still more than two month left in the year, and police say while the homicide rate is high, so is the solve rate.

The record number of homicides in Tulsa is 71 in 2009.

This year we’re at 61 murders, so far – with five of those happening recently.

Just a week ago, a man and woman were shot and killed at a bar off North Lewis and Admiral.

Less than 24 hours later, 25-year-old Quavis Cato was gunned down during a car deal in east Tulsa.

Days later, another body was found at Mohawk Park.

Then, over the weekend, Terry Brown Jr. was shot and killed in front of his own home.

"There's no doubt that this year is high,” said Tulsa Police Sergeant Dave Walker.

Of the 61 murders, Walker said 56 are considered solved.

"We're at 92 percent solve rate right now; over 61 murders and we only have five unsolved," Walker said. “92 percent is a high number, it's probably going to be the highest since I've been there in five years. But our goal is 100 percent, so we haven't done what we set out to do each year."

Walker said some of those five cases are already on their way to being solved as well.

"Our homicide unit cares about each and every one of these, and that goes a long way - to put in the hours we need to solve them," he said.

However, Walker said there have been some challenges this year.

"It's hard to prevent these when there's not really a common thread this year, it's all over the place," he said.

Many of the cases, he said, are personal relationships gone wrong - something Walker said is hard to crack down on.

Either way, the sergeant said he's proud of the work they do but will keep pushing to do better.