william_brasky
11/10/2006, 10:19 AM
http://www.newsok.com/article/2969238
4 dead in fence dispute
By Chad Previch and Larry Levy
The Oklahoman
SKIATOOK - Four people were fatally shot in rural Tulsa County near Skiatook, and reports indicate the shootings - described as a murder-suicide - were over a fence dispute.
Those killed were:
-- Howard Hawthorne, age not given;
-- Anthony Graham, 44;
-- Joshua LeForte, 24;
-- Dewayne Goodwin, age not given
About 4 p.m., deputies were called to the 3800 block of E 126 Street North in response to a disturbance over a fence, Undersheriff Brian Edwards said. One person was reportedly pulling out fence posts.
“I guess that was the catalyst for this tragedy,” Edwards said.
When Tulsa County sheriff’s deputies arrived, they found a man later identified as Hawthorne on a riding lawn mower. He told the deputies he had a complaint about his neighbors either moving or destroying his fence, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Capt. Fred Cotton said.
The deputies advised him he would need to go to court with his complaint, and left, Cotton said.
“He seemed satisfied and thanked the deputies,” Cotton said.
Shortly after, the shooter went into a home and got a shotgun, Edwards said. He came back out and shot the three victims, Edwards said.
About 5 p.m., deputies went to the area again in response to the shootings, Edwards said.
Skiatook officers arrived first, he said, and observed bodies on the ground. While the car still was rolling, Cotton said, they saw Hawthorne on the riding mower as he committed suicide.
Investigators found Graham’s body beside a tractor which he had apparently been using to pull up fence posts, Edwards said. Another victim was found by Graham’s home while a third was by the road, he said.
“It was a violent event,” Edwards said. “A lot of emotion was involved. It was one of the most disturbing crime scenes I’ve been to.”
Edwards said deputies were investigating whether the people involved had criminal records and whether they had previous disputes with each other.
He said homes in the area are between 100 and 200 yards from each other.
Cotton identified the shooter as Hawthorne, who lived next to the property where the shooting occurred.
Cotton said Graham and LeForte were father and son and that the sheriff’s office is investigating Goodwin’s connection to the other victims.
Police were interviewing six witnesses to the incident.
The shooting happened just outside the city limits of Skiatook, a Tulsa suburb that sits on the Tulsa-Osage county line.
Contributing: The Associated Press and Staff Writer Augie Frost
4 dead in fence dispute
By Chad Previch and Larry Levy
The Oklahoman
SKIATOOK - Four people were fatally shot in rural Tulsa County near Skiatook, and reports indicate the shootings - described as a murder-suicide - were over a fence dispute.
Those killed were:
-- Howard Hawthorne, age not given;
-- Anthony Graham, 44;
-- Joshua LeForte, 24;
-- Dewayne Goodwin, age not given
About 4 p.m., deputies were called to the 3800 block of E 126 Street North in response to a disturbance over a fence, Undersheriff Brian Edwards said. One person was reportedly pulling out fence posts.
“I guess that was the catalyst for this tragedy,” Edwards said.
When Tulsa County sheriff’s deputies arrived, they found a man later identified as Hawthorne on a riding lawn mower. He told the deputies he had a complaint about his neighbors either moving or destroying his fence, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Capt. Fred Cotton said.
The deputies advised him he would need to go to court with his complaint, and left, Cotton said.
“He seemed satisfied and thanked the deputies,” Cotton said.
Shortly after, the shooter went into a home and got a shotgun, Edwards said. He came back out and shot the three victims, Edwards said.
About 5 p.m., deputies went to the area again in response to the shootings, Edwards said.
Skiatook officers arrived first, he said, and observed bodies on the ground. While the car still was rolling, Cotton said, they saw Hawthorne on the riding mower as he committed suicide.
Investigators found Graham’s body beside a tractor which he had apparently been using to pull up fence posts, Edwards said. Another victim was found by Graham’s home while a third was by the road, he said.
“It was a violent event,” Edwards said. “A lot of emotion was involved. It was one of the most disturbing crime scenes I’ve been to.”
Edwards said deputies were investigating whether the people involved had criminal records and whether they had previous disputes with each other.
He said homes in the area are between 100 and 200 yards from each other.
Cotton identified the shooter as Hawthorne, who lived next to the property where the shooting occurred.
Cotton said Graham and LeForte were father and son and that the sheriff’s office is investigating Goodwin’s connection to the other victims.
Police were interviewing six witnesses to the incident.
The shooting happened just outside the city limits of Skiatook, a Tulsa suburb that sits on the Tulsa-Osage county line.
Contributing: The Associated Press and Staff Writer Augie Frost