Person Of Interest Named In Teen's Death

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The shooting death of a teen in east Tulsa has neighbors scared and police looking for answers.  Tevon Mathies was shot and killed on Wednesday near the Birch Place Apartments on East 33rd Street.

Tulsa Police have identified Tyler Ross Deerinwater as a person of interest in the case.  He is Native American, 17 years old with black hair, brown eyes.  He is approximately 5'08" and 160 pounds.  He was last seen in an older model Chrysler four-door sedan.

Suspect two is described as being a white or Hispanic male in his late teens or early twenties, 5'6", medium build, wearing a black shirt.

Tulsa Police say Tevon Mathies was walking along 33rd Street with friends when a car stopped and two men got out and began firing.  Mathies died at the scene, 20 days from his 15th birthday.

7/1/2009  Related Story: Teen Shot & Killed In East Tulsa

"I mean it was right here and I live right here," said Tulsan Curtis Delacuesta.

Curtis Delacuesta lives across the street from where Mathies died.  He's been living in the area for one month.  His girlfriend has lived there for seven months.  The couple has three young children and they've become very familiar with the sound of gunfire in their neighborhood.

"Dangerous, too dangerous. Bullets hit cars over here. What if it was towards this house? It would have hit one of my kids," said Curtis Delacuesta.

Investigators believe there was an altercation between Mathies and the suspects earlier in the day, but they're still trying to determine how that played into his death.  The biggest problem for investigators right now is no one is talking.

There were several witnesses at the scene on Wednesday night who saw what happened, but no one has talked to police.

"It's very frustrating for investigators because you're right there. You have your case and all you really need is that little bit of information," said Tulsa Police Officer Leland Ashley.

The News On 6 talked with several residents, but most were afraid to go on camera.  They were worried about potential retaliation.

According to the Tulsa Police CrimeTracker, authorities responded to nine felony assaults on the block where Mathies died from January to mid-May.

That's more than enough for Delacuesta; he's looking for a new place to live.  He is tired of worrying about his kids' safety.

"Done. Moving out.  It's over with," said Curtis Delacuesta.

Newson6.com's CrimeTracker has information about crime in your neighborhood.

If you know anything that could help police, call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.