Some Tulsans Question Their Safety Following Friday Homicide

By Jeffrey Smith, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Tulsa police say a beating that left one man dead appears to have stemmed from a dispute over an English bulldog. Guy Gilmore Jones, 40, died of massive trauma after police say several people entered his home at 36 North Victor and assaulted him.

The victim's wife came home to find her husband dead on the floor.

Police responded to the homicide at about 3:15 p.m. Friday. Police say a two-year-old was inside the house as Jones was beaten to death.

Three people have been killed in the same North Tulsa block in the last five weeks and those who live there are on high alert.

When asked if he felt safe in this neighborhood, Antwan Todd said, "not really."

"If I was by myself, yes, but now that I have a family, no, not at all," said Antwan Todd.

Five suspects have been booked on complaints of first degree murder in Jones' death: Aldelso Shadrick Barnes, 18; James Edward Alexander, 18; Shanon Hunt, 18; Jovan Caldwell, 20, and Sabrina Lee Cummings, 18.

Police are seeking a person of interest in the case, 47-year-old Carmile Chong Hwan Sulvetta, who they believe was the "mastermind" behind the homicide. They say Sulvetta "orchestrated meetings which ultimately led to the victim's death."

Neighbors say Jones owned three English bulldogs. They say one bulldog was constantly making noise.

"Those dogs would bark at everything. I go down there to mow the lawn and they'd be barking at me, all the time," said Sunny McVale, a neighbor.

Sunny McVale says one of Jones' bulldogs was new.

"One of those bulldogs, I think it was newly acquired. He seemed to be more aggressive than the other two," said Sunny McVale.

Detectives say Jones apparently stole that bulldog from one of the suspects. Police say the dog motivated the murder. The homicide has those who live in the neighborhood worried about their safety.

"It's hard to take, especially when we had this double murder over here like a month ago," said Sunny McVale.

Five weeks ago, the same block was rocked by a double homicide.

11/11/2009  Related Story: Tulsa Man Arrested For Weekend Double Homicide

"That's ridiculous, you know what I'm saying? Why would you kill someone over a dog, you know? That's just ridiculous to me," said Antwan Todd, a neighbor.

Antwan Todd says it used to be a very quiet block and he's stunned by the violence.

This is Tulsa's 67th homicide of the year.

12/11/2009  Related Story: Tulsa Man's Beating Death Blamed On Dispute Over Bulldog