TPD Continues Search For Person Responsible For Deadly Shooting

Tulsa Police are looking for the person who shot and killed a man at a Tulsa Apartment complex earlier this week.

Thursday, November 5th 2020, 5:19 pm

By: Reagan Ledbetter

TULSA, Okla. -

Tulsa Police are looking for the person who shot and killed a man at a Tulsa Apartment complex earlier this week.

Police said the man was riding a bike through the Meadows Apartment complex near 31st and Garnett, when he was shot in the head. Detectives said they found Matthew Thomason in the road with a gunshot wound right after he left a friend's apartment, he was taken to the hospital and died the next day.

Homicide Detectives have spent all week knocking on doors, hoping to find information about who shot Matthew Thomason and why.

"He doesn't actually live in the apartment complex, I believe he knew some people inside he apartment complex. There may have been some sort of altercation prior to the shooting,” said Tulsa Homicide Lieutenant Brandon Watkins.

Police said Thomason was lying next to his bike at the complex. Police found both rifle and handgun shell casings as two cars and two apartments were hit by stray bullets.

Records show Thomason did spend some time in prison for arson, drugs and burglary.

“They all seem senseless,” said Lt. Watkins. “I have yet to see a murder that made a whole heck of a lot of sense. You just wish people would settle their differences in a more constructive manner."

Watkins said this has been a tough year for his detectives and the citizens of Tulsa, when it comes to killings. There have been 73 homicides this year, which is just nine away from the record of 82, set in 2016.

Tulsa's homicide unit is nationally known for its nearly 100% solve rate. This case is the fifth one of 2020 that is still unsolved at the moment.

"There's not a lot of rest, at least no rest from the wicked,” said Lt. Watkins. “We are chasing down every lead. We are working around the clock. It has been a very difficult year.”

Watkins said even with the high numbers this year, very few have been random victims.

"For the most part, these victims are engaged in some high risk behavior. I'm not blaming the victims, I'm simply saying, if you got out and try to buy drugs off someone, sometimes that ends up getting you shot,” said Lt. Watkins.

If you have any information about the shooting call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS.

Reagan Ledbetter

Reagan Ledbetter joined News On 6 in June 2018 as a multimedia journalist. Reagan most recently was a student at the University of Oklahoma, where he received his degree in Broadcast Journalism