‘Good Friday’ Tulsa Shooters Charged With Murders, Hate Crimes

Men confessed to hate-filled rampage in city’s black neighborhoods

The two men who confessed to shooting three African American residents to death and injuring two others have been charged with violating Oklahoma’s hate crimes law.

Jacob England, 19, and Alvin Watts, 33, were charged Friday with three counts each of first-degree murder, two counts of shooting with intent to kill and five counts of malicious intimidation or harassment, the Tulsa World reports.

From the Tusla World report:

"Filing charges is the first step to obtain justice for the victims and their families," said Doug Drummond, Tulsa County first assistant district attorney. "This is a tragic and senseless crime. Our office is committed to holding those responsible accountable for their actions."

Each of the first-degree murder charges carries a potential sentence of life with parole, life without parole or potentially the death penalty, according to a Tulsa World report.

[ALSO READ: Tulsa Shooters Confessed On Easter Sunday]

Dannaer Fields, 49, Bobby Clark, 54, and William Allen, 31, died in the attacks. David Hall, 46, and Deon Tucker, 44, were both shot but survived., the World reports. Picture above are the victims who died.

In a statement released through the National Action Network, Rev. Al Sharpton pledged to help the families of the shooting victims:

"We are glad that the Prosecutors in Tulsa, Oklahoma have filed first-degree murder and hate crime charges against the two suspects in the Oklahoma shootings. I was scheduled to be in Tulsa this weekend but now feel that I can be more useful to the families of the victims to remain at my national convention and raise money for them. I will conduct my national radio broadcast from my national convention Sunday and will kick off the drive with $3000 from National Action Network, $1000 for each family of the three deceased victims. I am available to come to visit at the family’s request at a later date."

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