An appeal for information by police in Tulsa, Okla., helped bring about the arrest of two "knuckleheads" for the shooting deaths of three people during what appears to be a random spree, the city's mayor told TODAY's Lester Holt Sunday.
By NBC News, msnbc.com staff and news services
Updated at 9:55 a.m. ET: TULSA, Okla. -- Two men were arrested early Sunday in connection with a Good Friday?shooting spree in Tulsa's predominantly black north side?that left three people dead and two others wounded.
Jake England, 19, and Alvin Watts, 32, will be charged with three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of shooting with intent to kill, the Tulsa Police Department said. Police identified both suspects as white males.
They were arrested at 1:47 a.m. local time,?authorities said.
?"Our sympathy goes out to the families of the victims and we hope that our efforts can bring some resolution and closure to these heinous acts," the Tulsa Police Department said in a statement.
Tulsa police spokesman Jason Willingham told The Associated Press the two men were taken into custody just north of the city. He said a Crimestoppers tip prompted the arrests, adding that a helicopter was used to help locate the two suspects.
"We don't have a motive at this time," Willingham said. "We are still asking questions and hopefully that will become clear in coming days."
'Operation Random Shooter'
Police had said previously that they didn't believe the victims knew one another.
More than two dozen officers?were called in to investigate the case, along with the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and other agencies. The task force had been dubbed "Operation Random Shooter."?
Tulsa Police Via Tulsa World / AP
Jacob England, left, and Alvin Watts were arrested in Tulsa, Okla., early Sunday.
The shootings happened early Friday within a 3-mile span.?All five victims were out walking when they were shot.
'We're all nervous': Tulsa, Okla., on edge after shooting spree
Police had said previously that they were searching for a white man driving a white pickup, which was spotted in the area of three of the shootings.
A series of shootings on Saturday have authorities searching for suspects in Tulsa, Oklahoma. NBC's John Yang reports.
Though all of the victims were black, Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan told Reuters on Saturday it was too early to know whether the shootings were racially motivated.
However, KRMG reported Saturday that the FBI had announced that the shootings would be investigated?under federal hate crime legislation.
NBC News, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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