Muskogee Police need help in solving a 1998 murder

Federal agents and Muskogee Police need help solving a cold case homicide. The victim was a 19-year-old man, the father of two and the manager of a hardware store. <br><br>He also happened to be working

Wednesday, December 4th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Federal agents and Muskogee Police need help solving a cold case homicide. The victim was a 19-year-old man, the father of two and the manager of a hardware store.

He also happened to be working with the FBI to bust drug dealers at the time he was murdered. News on Six crime reporter Lori Fullbright says the man's family is desperate to have the killers brought to justice.

Sekou Lurks' family called him Cookie. He was the one who made everybody else laugh. He was the youngest of Hattie Lurks' four children. "I really spoiled him, he was kinda like a momma's boy." That's why Hattie Lurks begged her son not to help the FBI go after drug dealers. But, he said the money helped support his young sons and he was doing it for good, not because he had too. US Attorney, Sheldon Sperling, "This kid is not a snitch, he was a cooperating witness. He was not under the thumb of the law. He was just trying to help by providing information." In fact, Sekou helped police arrest a number of major crack dealers. One of the most notorious was Joshua Price.

But Sekou was murdered before he could testify against Price. Still, there was enough evidence to send Price to federal prison for six life terms. His picture is now featured on a prison web site asking for women pen pals. There's evidence that Price was involved in Sekou's murder, but authorities believe others were also there and they want them.

Neighbors reported hearing shots and investigators believe people heard or saw something but might not have come forward because the characters involved, but, now, after nearly five years, they hope people would come forward and do what's right. Someone lured Sekou out of him home on January 28th, 1998, and then shot him three times with a shotgun. He ran, but only made it 75 feet before he died. His young boys left alone and crying.

With his killers still out there, it makes his family believe Sekou's noble efforts were for nothing. Hattie Lurks, "It seems like my son died in vain, appears he just died in vain." Sekou's wife was murdered a few months later and now his children must grow up without either parent and no sense that justice has been done.

If you have any information about this murder, you can call the Muskogee Crimestoppers tip line at 918-682-COPS. You can remain anonymous and receive a cash reward up to a $1,000 if your tip leads to an arrest.