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Tulsa Police arrest suspect after deadly shooting at Woodland Hills Mall
Police are investigating this as a homicide after the victim, 21-year-old Kierstan "KJ" Love, died at the hospital.
Tulsa Police arrest suspect after deadly shooting at Woodland Hills Mall
- FOX23.com News Staff, John Asebes, Tanya Modersitzki
- Dec 28, 2023
A suspect is arrested in connection the deadly shooting at Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa.
TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa Police say they have a suspect in custody after the deadly shooting at Woodland Hills Mall on Tuesday.
FOX23 spoke with Nohemi Avelar Sanchez and her sister were working at Magnolia Soap and Bath Co. Tuesday night when the shooting happened.
They said their surveillance video caught the moment when they saw people start running for safety.
She said it was a terrifying moment when shots were fired.
"Out of nowhere we just seen a bunch of kids running and just thought it was kids being funny until we started seeing parents actually running with babies in their hands, holding their children by their hands, running out towards the Texas De Brazil exit," she said.
That's when Nohemi jumped into survival mode as she ran to the front to close the gate, then ran to the back of the store where her sister and customers were to hide.
She told FOX23 the mall has yet to give store managers and employees an update and is asking for better communication. Nohemi said they've pieced together what's happened because of news reporters and other managers texting in a group chat.
Tulsa Police are looking for the person they say shot and killed someone outside an entrance at Woodland Hills Mall on Tuesday.FOX23 speaks with police following deadly shooting at Woodland Hills Mall
20-year-old Deonte Crump was arrested in connection to the homicide, police say.
Deonte Crump
Police said Crump was arrested at a residence he was staying in near 51st and Memorial. They said it took some convincing to get Crump out of the home, where they found "good evidence."
Police are investigating this as a homicide after the victim, 21-year-old Kierstan "KJ" Love, died at the hospital.
Kierstan "KJ" Love
According to the affidavit, Love confronted the suspect, who police later identified as Crump, after he an altercation with Love's girlfriend while she was walking into the mall.
She went to get Love and returned with him, the affidavit says. Love exited the mall and confronted Crump who was waiting for him by the front door and tried to hit him, police records say.
The affidavit says Crump pulled out a handgun and shot Love in the face.
See the affidavit here.
FOX23 spoke with Devin Williams who spent several years working in the school system mentoring youth and who says he knew the victim.
"He kind of deescalated problems. He knows how to joke out of them. I know it started with a fight, that's what gets me," said Williams.
Williams says he can't imagine the pain Love's family is going through as well as anyone who knew him.
"His life has a lot more value than that. All humans have more value than that," said Williams.
Williams told FOX23 that he is worried about retaliation and is asking anyone close to the situation to keep calm and let police do their work.
"I think about any of his friends or homies who want to retaliate, that hurts me too. Anyone trying to get in trouble for him, he would be the type of kid who would try and make them feel better about the situation," said Williams.
TPD Capt. Richard Meulenberg says detectives working the case are speaking with witnesses to identify exactly who pulled the trigger.
"There are still things we have to figure out. I cant get too far into suspect information, but we think we might have an apprehension in the near future," said Meulenberg.
Police said the shooting happened around 6:30 p.m. and several Tulsa Police officers responded to reports of shots in the mall.
FOX23 viewers who were in the mall at the time said they were asked to take cover in the stores, and some stores had locked their doors with staff and customers sheltering inside.
Tulsa Police said the victim, identified as Love, was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Tulsa Police Lieutenant Brandon Watkins confirmed Love passed away at the hospital around 10:40 p.m. on Tuesday.
Police said two people were arguing just outside of the mall, a fight ensued, and the suspect pulled out a gun and shot Love.
The suspect ran away from the mall through the parking lot, police said.
Police said this was not an active shooter.
"So far, this does not appear to have been an 'Active Shooter,'" TPD Captain Richard Meulenberg said. "It is believed that the suspect and victim had a confrontation and shots were fired. All information at this time indicates that the suspect has left the mall, but we are still ensuring the safety of the public by checking the mall."
Woodland Hills Mall gave FOX23 the following statement.
“The Tulsa Police Department indicated that this was an isolated incident stemming from an altercation between two individuals outside a mall entrance," the statement says. "We are grateful for the quick response of the Tulsa Police Officer stationed in the center, mall security as well as the broader support of the Tulsa Police Department and other responding agencies. While Tulsa Police also indicated there is no ongoing threat, there will be a heightened law enforcement presence at the property.”
