Police Investigate Murder Of Gang Member, Federal Witness In Bank Robberies

Detectives say, for every murder victim, they make a list of who might want to kill the person and work from there. They say, in this case, the list was pretty long.

Thursday, April 4th 2013, 7:02 pm

By: News On 6

Police Investigate Murder Of Gang Member, Federal Witness In Bank Robberies

Tulsa Police are investigating the city's 22nd murder after Anthony Campbell was shot to death while taking his trash can back to his house.

Public records show Campbell testified last month against some members of his own gang, the Crips, who were on trial for robbing Tulsa-area pharmacies and banks.

Detectives say they make a list for every murder victim of who might want to kill the person and work from there. They say in this case the list was pretty long.

They arrested three men off that list Wednesday, but for charges not related to the homicide.

Records show Anthony Campbell was an ex-con who served time in state prison for drugs and guns. Tulsa police say he's a member of the Crips, which is a gang that has a long history in Tulsa of in-fighting that includes numerous drive-by shootings and murders.

"Here in Tulsa, the biggest feud we have is the Hoover and Neighborhood Crips--both Crip sets, both rivals, enemies. You can compare it to the Red Sox and Yankees, they're always gonna be enemies--same type of deal," said Sgt. Sean Larkin.

In 2009, a group of men were robbing pharmacies and banks, including an IBC Bank, an Arvest branch, and the Dooley, Barnes and Metro pharmacies. At the time, police called the robbers a professional and dangerous group, wearing masks, jumping over counters, even firing a shot inside one store.

Eight men were indicted and five pleaded guilty, but three went to trial. Police say those three are also Crips, and that's who Campbell testified against last month.

The three men were found guilty.

Police aren't saying that's what got him killed, but they say it's certainly a place to start.

"That's a part of his life, a small part we're looking at," Sgt. Dave Walker said.

Detectives questioned three other men Wednesday, in connection with Campbell's murder. They were all three arrested, not for the murder, but for unrelated gun and drug charges.

Police say Lorrell Battle is a Crip with a long criminal history. He was even charged with murder before, although that was dismissed when a witness failed to show up.

Police also arrested Gaymone Blades, who they say is a member of the Crips, and Thomas Hunter, who an ex-con.

Officers say, where there are gangs, there is violence.

"It's that violent lifestyle of dope dealing, hustling lifestyle, that puts people in situations to either commit crimes or fall victim to crimes," Larkin said.

Police say they'll keep going down the list they created of people associated with the murder victim and question the people on that list, one-by-one. They say they feel confident the killer's name is on that list somewhere, and it's just a matter of time before they find him.