Oklahoma shooting spree suspects to be arraigned

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TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Two Oklahoma men are due to be arraigned on charges alleging they killed three people and wounded two others during a racially-motivated shooting spree this month.

Jake England and Alvin Watts are due in Tulsa County District Court later Monday. They are each charged with first-degree murder, shooting with the intent to kill and malicious harassment in the April 6 attacks in north Tulsa. The harassment counts imply the victims were targeted because they are black.

Prosecutors have described the suspects as white, but a friend said England is Cherokee Indian and is not a racist.

Investigators have speculated that the shootings were done to avenge the death of England’s father, whom authorities say was fatally shot in self-defense during a struggle with a black man in 2010.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.