The brutal murder of two innocent men in Tulsa, Oklahoma, last month was initially thought to have been random, but prosecutors now suspect the black male who claimed responsibility killed the two men “execution style” because they were white!
61-year-old Carlton Gilford marched into Rudisill Library in North Hartford on the morning of April 18 and fatally shot 35-year-old Lundin Hatchcock in the back of the head, according to police.
Hatchcock was sitting at a computer desk, minding his own business.
The victim’s mother told KOTV-TV that her son was a selfless husband who had strong faith, loved God, and had a passion for helping other people, calling his slaying “a tragedy.”
But Gilford was not done with what now appears to be his racially motivated violence. Police say that the killer then drove to the nearby QuikTrip gas station, where he shot 55-year-old James McDaniel in the face — a brutal murder reportedly captured on surveillance cameras.
According to prosecutors, after McDaniel had collapsed to the ground, Gilford reloaded his weapon and shot him in “execution style” the head again.
After killing McDaniel, Gilford reportedly shot at a security guard inside the convenience store, who ultimately got out unscathed.
Police captured Gilford without incident. He was taken to a hospital for what the authorities said was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He remains hospitalized but is no longer in critical condition.
The Tulsa Police Department indicated that other than their race – both being white — there was no connection between the two victims nor with them and the suspect.
District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler indicated that Hatchock and McDaniel were targeted because they were white.
“The information suggests that race played a role in it, and I feel like that is something we can prove, and it is something that a judge or jury obviously needs to listen to. So we will present that information along with everything else,” said Kunzweiler.