Tulsa Could Set New Record For Homicides If Pace Continues

<p>Last year, Tulsa set a record for most homicides ever with 82. Tulsa Police are already investigating the city’s 63rd homicide of the year, and, at this rate, we could top last year’s number.</p>

Monday, September 18th 2017, 7:12 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Could Set New Record For Homicides If Pace Continues

Last year, Tulsa set a record for most homicides ever with 82. Tulsa Police are already investigating the city’s 63rd homicide of the year, and, at this rate, we could top last year’s number.

Police said they believe the murder rate is rising because people are too quick to solve problems with a gun.

They said they want people to know most murder victims are involved in high-risk lifestyles and know their killer. Police said of the 63 homicides this year, only eight were random victims.

The random victims include Kelsey Tennant, Chantel Mack, and Shawn Birdo. Police said random murders like those are impossible to prevent.

"You can't say the victims did anything wrong, there's just evil in the world," Sergeant Dave Walker said.

Walker said no one deserves to die, but most homicide victims lived a lifestyle where guns, drugs and violence were common, which put them at greater risk.

He said the average citizen shouldn't be afraid to live, work and shop in Tulsa.

"If you do the right things at the right time for the right reason, we can almost guarantee your safety," Walker said.

When you map out the year’s 63 homicides, there's a hot spot near 61st and South Peoria as well as near Pine and North Peoria. Walker said that changes year to year and no place is immune.

This year, 85 percent of cases have been solved.

"The solve rate reflects people getting involved," Walker said.

Tulsa has a population of 403,000, and with 63 murders, that means less than 1/10,000 of 1% of our citizens is a murder victim.