Violent numbers climbing in Tulsa, as 27-year-old Byron Roland becomes the victim of the 73rd homicide this year. Police suspect this as a gang-affiliated case, after the man was shot and killed while walking up a driveway to a home on the 4300 block of N. Frankfort Ave around 1 a.m. on Sunday.
"These killers were lurking in the bushes, ambushed the people at the house and fired rounds. Somebody walking up to the house gets shot and killed, another person walking down the street gets shot in the arm," said Homicide Sgt. Dave Walker with the Tulsa Police Department.
The 18-year-old man who was shot while walking along the fence of the home transported himself to the hospital in a private vehicle. He has since been treated and released. Police continue to investigate the murder, but as of now they're left with no evidence, no suspects, and no information.
"Give us some direction or you're living amongst killers, and that's the lottery that Mr. Roland lost last night,” said Sgt. Walker.
Tulsa saw 82 homicides in 2016, with investigators solving 79 of them. Byron Roland's murder now joins that list of nine unsolved in 2017. Tulsa police tell Two Works For You the motives behind the homicides in 2016 differ from the majority of 2017's.
"They had more, a victim and suspect had a relationship with each other and once you get to the why things are happening we can get to the who, or you give us the who we'll get to the why," said Sgt. Walker.
Police believe the increase in violent crime can change at the hands of the community, if they cooperate with the officers.
"Law enforcement can make a difference to the community that we police as opposed to just chasing down people and throwing them in jail, that doesn't solve it, it hasn't solved it and probably will not solve it," said Sgt. Walker.
If you know any information about the investigation, you are urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (918) 596-2677, the Homicide Tip Line at (918) 798-8477, or email homicide@cityoftulsa.org.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
