Murder Victim's Family Thanks Police

Thursday, September 13th 2007, 6:00 am

By: News On 6

The family of a man shot and killed this week in Tulsa says the arrest of a murder suspect gives them a sense of closure. The family says they are very grateful to the Tulsa Police officers who brought the shooting suspect into custody Wednesday morning.

The father of Steffan Shlemme says he is taking it all day by day, but he does feel a great sense of relief, now that the man accused of killing his son is behind bars. David Shlemme was there, when his oldest son, Steffan, was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon near 7th and Zurich.

Tulsa Police say a man walked into Shlemmeâ€™s yard asking for money. Police say when Steffan would only give the man a few dollars, instead of all of his money, Steffan Shlemme was shot twice. David Shlemme says Tulsa Police seemed to take the crime personally and let them know what was happening, every step of the way, when the suspect was first identified, surrounded and finally arrested.

David Shlemme says police called him right before the arrest and he drove over to the scene.

"And one of the officers who was so good at helping me here recognized me and he said, 'hey David we got him.' What more, ya know. It's a relief and there's a wonderful closure to it. But it's hard to put it all together, because it's so new and so fresh," says David Shlemme.

Shlemme has nothing but high praise for Tulsa Police and how they have handled this case.

Funeral services for Steffan Shlemme are scheduled for Monday in Tulsa.

Watch the video: Dad Reacts To Arrest

Related stories:

9/11/2007 - Robbery Outside A Home Turns Fatal

9/12/2007 - Police Arrest Murder Suspect