6 Arrested Amid Violence In Wewoka

Six people have been arrested in connection to the rash of violence in Wewoka, according to District Attorney Erik Johnson.

Those arrested are Mandell Carolina, Timothy Camp, Cortez Camp, Jerod Ridennour, Johnathon Hodge, and Brian Huntley, according to authorities. Police also say they seized four handguns.

"These arrests will certainly reduce the level of violence in Wewoka and make it a safer community," a statement handed out at the Wewoka press conference said.

Johnson says some of the arrestees are connected to a fatal shooting at an EZ Mart while the remaining suspects are linked to other acts of violence. Police said a 21-year-old man was killed. 

Authorities are anticipating more arrests as they investigate.

The Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department has had an increased presence in Wewoka due to an influx of gang-related gun violence within the city.

"We're coming together as one - all the police agencies with the help of District Attorney Erik Johnson as well, some task force - and we're going to have some federal agencies help us with the patrolling, just saturating the area," said Lighthorse Police Chief Chris Coker.

Coker said the rash of violence stems from an ongoing feud between two families over the past several months and is believed to have ties to local gangs. 

Coker said several of the shooting incidents involved people firing into the air rather than at people. But there have been at least two shootings in which people were targeted.

Amid the influx of violence, Coker said police had saturation patrols over the weekend.

"We managed to take three guns off the street this weekend," Coker said.

District Attorney Erik Johnson announced on Facebook that there will be a large law enforcement presence in Wewoka in the coming weeks as well.

Coker said he's encouraging people to be more forthcoming as well and report suspicious activity.