Friday’s shootings across Tulsa, Okla. — called “Operation Random Shooter” by the local police and FBI — stunned and saddened the nation. Two White men reportedly drove around that morning and shot five black people, three fatally, in four separate incidents during a span of less than two hours. The victims, who were not related in any way, were targeted while walking. One who survived the shooting helped ID the assailants leading police to make the arrests of Jake England, 19, and Alvin Watts, 32 at 2am Sunday morning.
Although their motivation is not clear, many are labeling it as a hate crime. "I was NAACP president for seven years and I understand and I know [a] hate crime when I see one,” said City Councilor Jack Henderson. On Thursday, England noted on his Facebook page that April 5th had been two years since his father had been killed. A Black man was charged and sentenced for his father’s death.
