In what the police are calling a racially motivated hate crime, a Black man has reportedly been accused of fatally shooting two white strangers in the back of the head in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
According to the Tulsa Police Department, Carlton Gilford reportedly shot and murdered two males with whom he had no affiliation on April 18.
According to police, Gifford, who is homeless according to prison records, entered the Rudisill Library at approximately 9:40 in the morning, approached a man seated at a desk, and shot him in the back of the head.
Lundin Hathcock, 35, the victim, was taken to the hospital right after but passed away there.
BREAKING: Tulsa PD reports that Carlton Gilford, an African American man, acted on racial motives when he fatally shot two white men on April 18. Gilford attacked 35-year-old Lundin Hathcock at a library and later, 55-year-old James McDaniel at a nearby store. He faces two counts… pic.twitter.com/foEznwzxV6
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) May 6, 2023
According to authorities, Gifford shot James McDaniel, 55, in the back of the head at a nearby QuikTrip convenience store after the library incident. The suspect shot the victim once again when he hit the ground. McDaniel then reportedly expired.
According to the police, surveillance footage showed Gilford shooting at a security guard and another individual outside the QuikTrip as well.
Gilford was standing outside the shop when police came and, according to the department, he admitted to shooting two victims.
Gilford was detained and accused with two charges of first-degree murder, two counts of intentionally shooting someone with the intent to kill, and one count of intentionally intimidating or harassing someone.
The latter accusation represents a hate crime in Oklahoma.
There currently isn’t a particular hate crime legislation under Oklahoma law, so it is unlikely that the suspect will be charged with a ‘hate crime’ under state law.
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