Tulsa Police conduct a series of searches in hopes of solving a weekend murder

Tulsa homicide detectives are sorting through evidence that was recovered during the service of five search warrants Wednesday. <br/><br/>They were looking for items to help them solve the weekend murder

Wednesday, February 16th 2005, 5:33 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa homicide detectives are sorting through evidence that was recovered during the service of five search warrants Wednesday.

They were looking for items to help them solve the weekend murder of a 16 year old girl and get information about a recent string of shootings involving a new gang called the G-Unit that the News on 6 told you about Tuesday.

News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright was there during the warrants sweep and has this follow-up.

Tulsa Police's Special Operations Team dressed in full protective gear to surround five houses in order to serve high risk search warrants, looking for guns. SOT's job was to clear the houses, to make sure they were empty and safe so detectives and agents from the ATF and FBI could get inside and search for evidence. The warrants are in response to a string of recent gang shootings and two weekend murders.

Tulsa Police Sgt Mike Huff: "We have two rival gangs that are feuding and it goes in cycles. We're developing information about why these gangs are at odds and try to understand what they do to each other. Most people don't cooperate with us, even victims."

Tulsa Police say running into those brick walls makes it hard to solve crimes, like this weekend's murder of a 16 year old girl who officers say was an innocent victim and unintended target.

Sgt. Mike Huff: "A lot of people don't understand the street life and gang life and all that comes with it. But it's all negative and we deal with that and hope churches and family members will give us a call and give us the opportunity to get the violent criminals off the streets."

Tulsa Police say the first step toward finding the criminals is to find the weapons used in shootings and murders. Detectives say a new Tulsa gang called G-Unit is connected to a lot of the most recent violence and they hope they evidence they recovered, helps them stop that violence before it gets worse. The warrants sweep Wednesday involved a total of 50 officers and agents and took several hours.

Tulsa Police end up going to many of the same addresses over and over again. They see the same people, one week the person is a victim of a shooting, the next week; they might be a suspect in a shooting. They also deal with many members of the same family, brothers, cousins and uncles. Even generations, fathers and then years later, sons, a vicious cycle.