Gunmen Loose After Drive-By Shooting - click here to see video

KOTV - 3/17/2007 9:29 PM - Updated 3/17/2007 10:24 PM

Police say nearly a dozen people were injured when a gunman opened fire in a North Tulsa park. Tulsa police say the shooting happened shortly after 7 o’clock Saturday evening at Crawford Park . The News on 6’s Chris Wright reports park goers were celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in the park when someone opened fire.

Tulsa police questioned witnesses and its helicopter helped searched for suspects after Saturday evening's drive-by shooting. TPD now believes as many as 11 people were injured when a gunman opened fire from a car. They say one person was shot in the head, and has life-threatening injuries.

Police are looking for two suspects, but the investigation is just getting underway, there are still many unanswered questions.

"We're concentrating here, we're also trying to get the officers to the addresses and to the hospitals, right now we don't have any specific information to tell people to watch out for," said TPD Captain Brett Bailey.

Police says the number of victims continued to rise throughout the evening. Many of the shooting victims did not stay in the park, but went to the hospital or other homes in the neighborhood, said police.

"Apparently they all came from here, but they left and showed up at area hospitals,” Bailey said.

Witnesses tell police there are parties at Crawford Park almost every Saturday, but until now, they have not turned violent.

"My understanding this is a regular occurrence, on Saturdays they have a party down here. Just a regular type deal," said Bailey.

In an effort to figure out exactly what happened, the Tulsa Police Department has sent officers to area hospitals to talk with some of the shooting victims. Police say they did find some shell casings at the scene. They hope those will shed some light on who did this.

If you have any information about this shooting call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS, you can remain anonymous and could earn a cash reward.

Park Attack Prompts Meeting

KOTV - 3/18/2007 9:37 PM - Updated 3/19/2007 7:14 AM

There is a call for action after a drive-by shooting in north Tulsa Saturday night. Police say 11 people were shot, one with life-threatening injuries, when a gunman opened fire on a crowd gathered at Crawford Park . The News on 6’s Chris Wright reports local leaders say they have seen enough violence in north Tulsa , and by speaking out against it, they hope to help put an end to it.

"We will not tolerate it," said Dr.Warren Blakney of North Peoria Church of Christ.

The North Peoria Church of Christ sits only a few blocks from Crawford Park . A member of Blakney's congregation was one of the eleven injured in Saturday's drive-by shooting. He says a group of Central High School students were hosting a fundraiser for the school band when gunmen opened fire.

"A number of them are very upset and feeling like they can not enjoy activities like this where there are going to be gatherings because of fear of violence, so we have to curtail it, we have to stop that," said Blakney.

Blakney has already talked to other north Tulsa clergy-leaders, Tulsa Police, the NAACP, and elected officials about what can be done to stop the violence. By working together, Blakney is confident they will be able to find solutions.

"We've got to be able to clean up the violence activities and the gang activities, and get it so that folks can feel free and comfortable and safe to come in to our community," Blakney said.

He says Saturday evening's shooting was one of the worst he has seen in his decade in north Tulsa . While tragic, he hopes it will prompt people to work together to put an end to it.

"We can police our community, and with the police's help, we can really I think eliminate some of this from our community," said Blakney.

Blakney, along with other north Tulsa leaders and elected officials, will discuss their efforts to curb violence in the area at a press conference Monday morning. As for the shooting, Blakney says the annual band fundraising event at Crawford Park has a history of violence, and he would like to see more of a police presence next year.

Community Leaders Seek Action After Weekend Shooting

KOTV - 3/19/2007 3:51 PM - Updated 3/19/2007 5:51 PM

The Tulsa community responds to a shooting that injured 11 teenagers over the weekend. Preachers, politicians and police showed a united front Monday at the very park where the shooting happened. They urged young people to stop the violence. Folks from different churches, people who live in the neighborhood, city employees, EMSA, Tulsa Public schools , social services, they were all there. News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports they all want the same thing, for children to be protected.

Investigators are looking for two people who fired shots out of moving vehicle into a crowd of kids at Crawford Park Saturday evening. Why someone would drive by and shoot into a crowd at random, is hard to fathom. Because someone did just that, people showed up to the park Monday with a show of force. They love their community and want their children to be safe.

"They need to have safe places to gather and we intend on making certain we secure those places where young people can meet and have fun and enjoy themselves without fear of this type of violence," said Dr. Warren Blakney of North Peoria Church of Christ.

The goal was to show people from different walks of life can be united in one cause. There was a message here for teenagers and parents alike; you're not alone. They say trust must replace fear in the community's relationship with police. Police say they are willing and need help curbing crime.

"It's a long-term solution. I think by building close ties to the community and clergy and building trust, we're taking positive steps forward," said Tulsa Police Department Deputy Chief Mark McCrory.

Some even felt barriers between the churches themselves need to fall in order to show young people that people with different faiths and philosophies can work together.

"Children are a reflection of us. Where we shoot spiritual bullets at each other, children shoot real bullets," said Albert Mohammed of Nation of Islam.