Police are looking for a suspect who is believed to be intentionally targeting homeless people in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
He is described as a white male in his 40’s wearing a baseball cap.
The first incident took place at 6:15 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 4, under the overpass of Interstate 244 on North Cheyenne Ave.
While driving a white pick-up truck, the suspect ran over three homeless people, killing one of them.
He then fled East on Easton Street.
That vehicular assault killed Shaun Birdough, 46, and left Cynthia Wallace, 49, hospitalized with severe injuries, said Tulsa Police Officer Jeanne MacKenzie, as reported by Tulsa World. A third person, James Russell, sustained a minor abrasion to his leg.
The police have released surveillance footage of the small white mid-1980 to ‘90s model pickup used in the crime, possibly identified as a Toyota 2WD Hilux.
Sgt. Stephen Florea said in an interview with Tulsa World, that the act was “absolutely” intentional.
“There’s just no way this could have been an accident. He had to deliberately drive up over the curb, maneuver his vehicle between the telephone pole and retaining wall, and then accelerate to hit these guys,” he said.
Throughout the incident, the driver never braked or stopped.
Florea also mentioned that the truck had first circled around the block a couple times before coming back for the strike.
At around 5 p.m. on the same day, police reported the same truck involved in another hit-and-run near 14th Place and Carthage Avenue.
A woman sitting on a curb had her legs run over and was sent to the hospital. The injuries appeared not to be life-threatening.
Authorities who are investigating regard the incidents as homicide and intentional hit-and-run.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (918)596-2677.
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