Six people — including five children — killed in Oklahoma shooting, cops say
Five children and an adult man are dead following an early morning shooting Tuesday in a small Oklahoma town, police said.
Officers in Muskogee, about 50 miles southeast of Tulsa, responded to a call of multiple people shot around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to a news release. When officers arrived, they found a man holding a gun, police said.
An officer shot at the suspect, but the bullet missed as he ran away, according to police. The suspect, whose name has not been released, was caught “after a short foot pursuit,” Muskogee police said.
One adult man was found dead inside the residence, as well as four small children, according to the release. A fifth child died after being flown to a nearby hospital in Tulsa. An adult woman remained hospitalized in Tulsa and is stable Tuesday afternoon, according to police.
The suspect, 25-year-old Jarron Deajon Pridgeon, lived in the home with the victims, officer Lynn Hamlin said Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday, he was charged with six counts of murder, one count of shooting with intent to kill, and one count of possession of a firearm after conviction.
All of the victims were shot, Hamlin told reporters in a briefing Tuesday. She said the shooting does not appear to be random.
Their identities were released late Tuesday as Jalaiya Pridgeon, 1; Jaidus Pridgeon, 3; Harmony Anderson, 5; Neveah Pridgeon, 6; Que’dynce Anderson, 9, and Javarion Lee, 24. Lee and Pridgeon are brothers, police said.
Muskogee Mayor Marlon J. Coleman said Tuesday afternoon the tragedy was unlike any the community has seen in decades.
“Many of us went to bed resting in anticipation of tomorrow’s hopes, only to have awakened to know that five babies with unlimited potential are no longer with us; their lives taken prematurely, their families grappling with a new horror, and our community paralyzed with grief,” Coleman stated. “Even though the suspect is in custody, no court of law or sentencing phase can restore this loss of life.”
Two of the children who died were students at Creek Elementary School, according to Muskogee Public Schools. Counseling services have been offered at the school.
“We are saddened by this tragic loss and our deepest sympathies go out to all of those impacted,” said Dr. Jarod Mendenhall, superintendent of Muskogee Public Schools. “No words can adequately express our sadness in losing these students and our thoughts and prayers are with this family.”
A neighbor told KOTV the family recently moved to the neighborhood.
“It’s heartbreaking, especially kids that haven’t been able to grow up,” the neighbor, Paul Jones, said of the shootings.
This story was originally published February 2, 2021 at 6:25 AM with the headline "Six people — including five children — killed in Oklahoma shooting, cops say."