The quiet humdrum of a regular day in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was shattered on April 18th, when a shooting spree at a local library and gas station left two people dead. The suspect, Carlton Guilford, was apprehended at the scene, and his chilling confession, captured on police body camera footage, has sent shockwaves through the community.
Double Shooting Rocks Tulsa Community
The harrowing events unfolded just before 10 am, when police received frantic calls reporting two separate shootings, one at the Rudisill Public Library and the other at a nearby QuickTrip gas station. According to the Tulsa Police Department, Guilford first entered the library, where he fatally shot a man in the back of the head. He then made his way to the QuickTrip, where he shot another man in the back of the head. As the victim lay helpless on the ground, Guilford allegedly shot him again. Surveillance video from the gas station reveals the terrifying moment Guilford fired shots at two more individuals.
Police officers responding to the scene of the shooting at QuickTrip gas station in Tulsa
Dramatic Arrest Captured on Bodycam
As the first responders arrived at the gas station, the scene was chaotic. Officers could be seen on the bodycam footage, securing the area and urgently evacuating people from their vehicles. Gas station employees informed the officers that one employee was still inside the building.
Little did they know, the suspect was already in their midst. In a stunning turn of events, Guilford approached the officers and, when questioned about his whereabouts, calmly confessed to the shootings, stating “Yeah, I did that. I did that. There you go. You got the shooting and everything, yeah.”
The bodycam footage shows the officers swiftly apprehending Guilford and recovering a weapon from him. When pressed for an explanation, Guilford’s only response was, “It’s a long story.”
Victims Identified, Motive Investigated
The two victims were later identified as London Hathcock and James McDaniel. Tragically, both men succumbed to their injuries. Prosecutors are alleging that the shootings were racially motivated. Guilford, who is Black, is accused of targeting both victims because they were white.
Following the shooting, Guilford was treated for self-inflicted gunshot wounds. He now faces a litany of charges, including two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of shooting with intent to kill. Guilford’s next court appearance is scheduled for Monday.
This tragic incident has left the Tulsa community reeling. As investigators continue to piece together the events of that fateful day, many are left grappling with the senseless loss of life and the chilling realization that such violence can erupt anywhere, at any time.
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