Tulsa Police Chief Addresses 'Random' Shootings That Killed 2 People

Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin addressed to the random murders of two innocent people on Tuesday. One was killed inside a library and the other at a nearby QuikTrip.

Chief Franklin says he has watched the surveillance video of Carlton Gilford killing James McDaniel and Lundin Hathcock, and says it’s horrific. Chief Franklin says he, like everyone else right now, wants to know why. But they don't know why this happened.

He says neither victim had a chance to prepare or protect themselves. He says Gilford just walked up behind both victims, pulled out a gun, and shot them in the head.

"We believe thus far from everything we've uncovered, this was just a random event,” said Franklin.

Previous Story: 2 Dead After Shootings At Library, QuikTrip In Tulsa

Chief Franklin says random murders are very rare in Tulsa since most times the victims and suspects know each other. Police say Lundin Hathcock was sitting at a desk inside the Rudisill Library when Gilford shot Hatchcock in the back of the head.

Police say shortly after, Gilford went into the QT just blocks away, and shot James McDaniel in the head, then shot him again while he was on the ground.

"I know that's the question everyone wants to know now, is why? Why did this happen? We want to know that as well. It is quite possible we may not know that,” said Franklin.

Chief Franklin says there is a rise in violence across the country right now, and it doesn't matter where you live, it can happen anywhere.

"As a society, so many things are happening, such violence that is being displayed, to the point that it is something that we are absorbing in our everyday life. We are saying oh wow, yep, another shooting here, another murder here,” said Franklin.

He says while many want to pin the blame on guns, he believes the problem is much deeper than that.

"We as a society need to take a step back and try to figure out why these things are happening. What are the root causes that's leading people to a destructive path like this. and see if there's some way we can address that,” said Franklin.

He says despite the tragedy, he hopes this senseless violence doesn’t stop people from living their lives.

"It hurts all of us when something like this happens. This random act. occurs. That we can't explain. This is one of those that we just can't explain,” said Franklin.

Gilford is currently in the hospital after police say he shot himself. He is expected to survive and will be booked into the Tulsa County jail when released he is released from the hospital.