Tulsa Police Question, Release Man In City's Latest Murder Investigation

Tulsa police say someone shot a woman in the head outside a home at 10th and St. Louis early Saturday. They are looking for a Tulsa man in connection to the death.

Saturday, November 22nd 2014, 9:06 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa Police Question, Release Man In City's Latest Murder Investigation

Tulsa police said they were able to question and release a Tulsa man in connection with the city's latest homicide.

A 31-year-old woman was shot in the head early Saturday in the 48th murder of the year. It happened out in the street near 10th and St. Louis at about 3:30 a.m.

TPD Sgt. Dave Walker said officers located Lincoln Todd Newton, also known as Taz, about 4 p.m. in the downtown area. Walker said officers have let Newton go and the investigation continues.

A witness told police they heard a disturbance outside and what they thought was a firecracker. After that, they saw a group of people "calmly" walking away, Walker said. The witness then found the woman on the ground with a fatal gunshot wound.

"I've seen a lot of bad things in my life," Mark, a neighbor who tried to resuscitate her, said. "I've been in some pretty crazy accidents, but I've never had to walk up on something like that."

Walker said the woman apparently lives in a lean-to nearby. Police know her name but have not released it yet because they have been unable to contact her family.

"She does supposedly work in this area, kind of as a night person, maybe a prostitute," Walker said. "We don't have that confirmed yet."

Mark said he saw the woman walking up and down the street daily, but says it's a senseless and disturbing crime, no matter what.

"To know that that was a life that was taken that close to me and my family, it breaks your heart to know that people don't have a heart," he said. "This morning, I felt like it was unfair what that lady went through, so I put a cross right there in the grass where she was. I don't know if she has any family, but if she does, I'm sorry for your loss."

Walker said someone rifled through her purse, probably after the shooting. Mark came upon the scene and called for help.

"We don't have a lot to go on," Walker said. "We don't have the people we need to talk to just yet."

Walker issued an update on the murder Saturday afternoon, stating police wanted to talk to Newton, who has a history of drug and other convictions. Walker said there are no outstanding warrants for Newton's arrest, but investigators wanted to question him in connection to the murder.

They believed he was at the scene and left just after the body was discovered, riding a bicycle. The bicycle was found abandoned at 600 South Utica.

Walker said later Saturday morning that witnesses saw a man wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt standing near the body.

Newton was questioned and released later in the day.

If you know anything about this crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS.