TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Two Oklahoma men suspected in a shooting rampage that left three people dead and terrorized Tulsa’s African-American community appeared in court Monday and had bond set at more than $9 million each.
Jake England, 19, and Alvin Watts, 32, appeared via closed-circuit television from jail. Both are being held on suspicion of three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of shooting with the intent to kill and one count of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. They will be formally charged at a later date.
Neither man had an attorney present Monday. The judge set bond at $9.16 million apiece and scheduled their next appearance for April 16.
Police have identified both suspects as white, while all five victims in the early Friday shootings were black. Police and the FBI cautioned that it was too early to say whether the attacks in Tulsa’s predominantly black north side were racially motivated. Police spokesman Jason Willingham said that based on Facebook postings attributed to England, a wish to avenge the death of his father might have been a factor.
A Thursday Facebook update that appeared to have been written by England blamed his father’s death on a black man and used a racial slur. The posting said Thursday was the second anniversary of his father’s shooting death.
“It’s hard not to go off,” given the anniversary and the death of his fiancée earlier this year, the posting said.
“It’s apparent from the posting on the Facebook page that he had an ax to grind, and that was possibly part of the motive,” Willingham said. “If you read the Facebook post and see what he’s accused of doing, you can see there’s link between the two of them.”
The Facebook page had been taken down by Sunday afternoon.
Watts’ brother, Gene, told the Tulsa World that Watts moved in with England soon after his father died to help him deal with his anger, which seemed to be racially focused, pay bills and get his life back together. He said his brother also had some issues, but he would be shocked if he was involved in the shootings.
“I’ve never known my brother to be no racist or anything like that,” Gene Watts said. “I know he was going through a little bit of depression problems, but other than that, he’s got in little scuffles before, but he’s never went off and done this.
“I can’t believe it, and I know the world can’t believe it either. I’m just sorry about the whole ordeal. My heart goes out to everyone affected.”
Alicia Houston told the newspaper she has known England since he was a child and “from the time his father died, that boy has been somebody else.” She said England needed therapy “from the beginning” but didn’t receive it. He was taking medication for depression, she said.
The Tulsa World reported that England’s father, Carl, was shot in the chest during a scuffle with a man who had tried to break into his daughter’s apartment. England later died.
Pernell Jefferson faces a May trial in that case on charges of attempted burglary and possession of a firearm after being convicted of a previous felony, according to court records. He is already serving a six-year sentence on a weapons charge in another case, according to Department of Corrections records.
Acting on an anonymous tip and backed by a helicopter, police followed England and Watts from the home they shared in Turley and arrested them Sunday without incident, police said.
Task force commander Maj. Walter Evans said investigators recovered a weapon but that it was not clear who fired the shots. They also found a truck that had been burned.
The Rev. Warren Blakney Sr., president of the Tulsa NAACP, said the arrests came as a relief. Black community leaders met Friday night as fears mounted over the shootings — and the possibility of retaliatory attacks.
“The community once again can go about its business without fear of there being a shooter on the streets,” Blakney said.
Police Chief Chuck Jordan said the gunmen appeared to have chosen their victims at random. Police identified those killed as Dannaer Fields, 49, Bobby Clark, 54, and William Allen, 31. Two men were wounded but were released from the hospital, Jordan said. Police identified them Monday as David Hall, 46, and Deon Tucker, 44.
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Associated Press writers Rochelle Hines in Oklahoma City and Erica Hunzinger in Chicago contributed to this report.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.