Woman talks about covering up homicide

New evidence in a Tulsa homicide investigation lands an accused killer behind bars. The fatal shooting happened Wednesday night in a homeless camp along the Arkansas River known as 'Tent City.'

Thursday, April 28th 2005, 12:41 pm

By: News On 6

New evidence in a Tulsa homicide investigation lands an accused killer behind bars. The fatal shooting happened Wednesday night in a homeless camp along the Arkansas River known as 'Tent City.'

Investigators were first sent on a wild goose chase by two people calling themselves 'Good Samaritans' who claimed to have just happened upon the victim. Tulsa Police detectives later learned those people played a role in covering up the crime.

The News on 6's Heather Lewin asked one of them why they lied about the killing.

Christina Dawson is worried about retaliation from the family of the man she says she tried to keep out of jail. "She says it was my fault." 48-year old John Mullenax- known as "Solo"-is behind bars, accused of fatally shooting a man who approached Solo's homeless campsite Tuesday night. Dawson says it seemed the victim and another man with him was drunk. "They started trying the handles on my car." Dawson's car was parked near the suspect's campsite.

She says when the victim and his friend started trouble, she ran for a knife. That's when she heard the shot. "And I heard a Pop!â€ She says she ran back up the hill and saw Solo standing over the victim with a gun. â€œI pulled back his shirt to see how bad it was and he had all these teeny tiny holes." Dawson says they loaded the man into her car, rushed him to the hospital and made up a story along the way. "Solo had asked me to tell the hospital that we found him on a corner, so we did. He was like gasping and kicking or whatever and I was trying to talk to him and tell him you're gonna make it.â€ But he didn't make it.

Tulsa Police went to the corner where Dawson claimed they found the victim, but saw no sign of a shooting and questioned her story. She finally told investigators the truth. â€œThe whole thing was just a mess anyway, you know." Dawson claims she lied because Solo was her friend, but says she tried to save the victim's life. "I think if my phone would've been working and we got the ambulance out here, this kid may have made it. And I feel really s------because, but I know it's not my fault."

Tulsa Police say Dawson and the other person who pretended to be a Good Samaritan are not facing any charges.