Tulsa Police Identify, Arrest Alleged Gunman In Best Buy Murders

Police arrested 20-year-old convicted felon Willie Antoine Wise, who they believe killed two at a Best Buy on Saturday.

Thursday, July 19th 2012, 9:57 am

By: News On 6


Despite receiving zero credible tips in a gang-related, double-homicide that took place at a busy electronics store Saturday afternoon, Tulsa police said Thursday they have arrested a man believed to be the killer.

TPD arrested 20-year-old convicted felon Willie Antoine Wise in connection with the fatal shootings on Skelly Drive.

During an 8:30 a.m. traffic stop near 23rd Street and Jackson Avenue, authorities took Wise into custody, TPD Public Information Officer Leland Ashley said.

Wise is facing two first-degree murder charges for killing Scott D. Norman and Graydon "Wesley" Brown, who both died after sustaining gunshot wounds.

Wise was convicted in 2010 of felony larceny of merchandise from a retailer.

He was a standout football player for East Central High School, where he helped lead the Cardinals to the state championship game in 2010. He was an all-district pick his senior year.

7/18/2012 Related Story: Tulsa Police Arrest Woman Driving Car Seen In Best Buy Surveillance Video

Wise's arrest follows the arrest of a 30-year-old woman Wednesday evening. Shania Craven was booked into the Tulsa County jail on two complaints of accessory to first-degree murder.

The car she was driving, which was pulled over by police in the 100 block of North Denver Avenue, was a dark-colored Chevrolet Malibu, which had been sought by authorities after a review of Best Buy's surveillance footage. 

In the videos, police said, the shooter was seen firing off shots in the parking lot before jumping into the getaway car.

Tulsa Police questioned Craven before booking her into jail.

Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan said in a Thursday afternoon news conference that police also questioned another man, Jeremy Foster, 22, in conjunction with the murders. He was arrested Wednesday afternoon and is being held on two complaints of first-degree murder.

Foster is also a convicted felon. A records search shows he was released from incarceration in April after serving a four-year sentence for a 2008 charge of intimidation of a witness and a 2009 charge of eluding a police officer.

7/19/2012 Related Story: Funeral Set For Tulsa Best Buy Shooting Victim Hit By Stray Bullet

Of the shooting victims, Jordan said Norman and Wise had known conflict that went back to 2008.

"It was rekindled at the Promenade Mall," he said about Saturday's events.

Norman, who police called "an intended target," was shown being tailed by a man in mall surveillance video, Jordan said. Norman then went to the nearby Best Buy store, where police said Wise gunned him down in the parking lot.

A shopper inside the store, Wesley Brown, was hit by stray bullets while he was holding his 10-year-old daughter's hand and shopping for a birthday gift for his wife.

Jordan referred to Brown as apparent "collateral damage" in a gang-related hit. 

In response to media questions about gangs in Tulsa, Jordan said his department commits a "tremendous amount of resources to gang violence... We're doing the very best we can."

Jordan said TPD has planned another gang sweep for the coming weeks.

The arrests in Saturday's murders are proving that "our efforts are paying off," he said.

 

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