| Updated: 7/25/2012 5:39 pm |
Published: 7/25/2012 5:12 pm
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A campaign to stop crime in Tulsa is gaining momentum.
“We are asking them [police] help us help you, help our neighborhoods, said Florence Park Neighborhood Association member Elizabeth Jones.
The campaign is symbolized by teal ribbons, the favorite color of Graydon Wesley Brown, the innocent bystander who was killed by a stray bullet in a shooting at the Best Buy on Skelly Drive.
The gang shooting happened on July 14th. Scott Norman, 34, was gunned down in the parking lot. Police believe he was the intended target stemming from a gang feud that started in 2008.
Brown’s neighbors are working to make something good out of something bad. The neighborhood his covered in teal ribbons a sign of police support.
“The sign of the ribbon is there, look around, see the teal and know we are supporting you,” said Jones.
Now there’s a call for action.
"Evil thrives when we do nothing. Sit back and do nothing, nothing good will happen. We have to start somewhere,” said Jones.
It’s starting with ribbons and fliers.
"Connecting the good guys!” said Jones. "It's not black verses white, North Side verse South verses South Side, East Side vs. West side. It's good guys verses the bad guys."
Wesley Brown was killed by a stray bullet in a gang shooting on July 14th.
He was shopping with his ten-year-old for birthday gift for her mom.
"It didn't start with Wesley. All of this horrible ridiculous innocent victim. It didn't start with Wesley. But it should end here,” said Jones.
They want to starting with a call for action among elected officials on zero tolerance for violent crime.
"The good guys need to come together as much as the bad guys have apparently seemed to do," said Jones.
The meeting, which is not a rally, is connecting city leaders, police and public safety leaders with neighborhood leaders.
“We have to do something. We don't know how to stop this or contain it that's why we have leaders,” said Jones. “If we don't get told or put in a proper direction or we don't get proper tools then we will reach out again and find someone who will."
The zero tolerance movement is spreading from teal ribbons to messages on a church marquee:
“Wesley Brown will be missed gangs will not."
The message was posted on the East Side Christian Church at 15th and S. Harvard.
"It's time that we all said so,” said Reverend Fred Turner.
The church is only a few blocks away from Brown’s home.
"It hurt. We want them to know that we hurt with them," said Turner.
Even though the pastor didn’t know the family, the congregation will do its part.
"We are part of this community and we hate to see this happening," said Turner.
It can start by standing together with the color teal.
"Tie a ribbon, listen to your neighborhood association board member. Listen to your homeowner association members. Be a part of your homeowners association,” said Jones.
To keep the meeting focused it is only for homeowner association offices and neighborhood leaders.
Those members who attend the meeting will be able to go back to their neighborhood and share the concerns and changes on to be better proactive citizens in the community.
The meeting is August 14th from 7 pm to 9pm at Harvard Avenue Baptist Church at 17th and S. Harvard.
The meeting is open for any homeowner association leader who lives in Tulsa.
Search warrants, offer new details about what led to an arrest in the Best Buy murders.
Documents show after detectives interviewed Shania Craven, 30, about the car believed to be used in the shooting, she confirmed Wise was the shooter and that was the man seen in the surveillance pictures.
Wise and Jeremy Foster, 22, were arrested the day after police talked to Craven.
Both men are accused of First-Degree Murder. Craven is accused of being an accessory to those murders.
Formal charges are expected by the end of the week. All suspects in this case are being held without bond.
