Tulsa Homeless People Run Over: Suspect Arrested

TULSA, OK — Police said they caught the man suspected of deliberately running over homeless people in Tulsa and driving away, resulting in one death.

Police believe the same person was responsible for a pair of hit-and-runs that targeted homeless people over less than 12 hours. Tulsa Police Sgt. Stephen Florea told Tulsa World the first crash Monday was fatal and appeared intentional. He said Shawn Birdo, 46, was killed and Cynthia Wallace, 49, was seriously hurt. She was was hospitalized with severe injuries. A second man suffered a minor leg injury.

Florea said a second homeless woman was hospitalized later Monday after her legs were run over in a separate crash. Police released surveillance photos of a small white pickup truck that was present at both scenes. Sgt. Shane Tuell later said police found the pickup in north Tulsa that investigators linked to the attacks. A man was arrested nearby a short time later, he said. (For more information on the Tulsa homeless attacks and other Tulsa stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Jeremy Thacker, 40, was held on a murder complaint stemming from the two hit-and-run crashes, police said. Thacker was arrested Tuesday on complaints of first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon, Tulsa police spokeswoman Jeanne MacKenzie said. MacKenzie said Thacker didn't speak to detectives, but that damage on his truck was consistent to both crashes.

It was not immediately clear if Thacker had an attorney.

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