A man was accused of shooting six people, including five young children, in Oklahoma earlier this week, as new details emerged in the case, according to officials and reports.
Police arrested Jarron Deajon Pridgeon, 25, on charges of first-degree murder for allegedly shooting six victims, including children aged 1, 3, 5, 6 and 9, the police said. The adult victim, Javarion Lee, 24, is allegedly Pridgeon’s brother.
Raven Anderson, who is a children’s aunt, told Tulsa KOTV TV that Pridgeon was the father of three of the murdered children. Officer Lynn Hamlin said the suspect and the victims lived in the house.
“They were great kids, they were smart, full of happiness, energy. They were, they just loved life,” she said. “Honestly, it would be great if everyone continued to pray.”
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Investigators said they still do not know what triggered the suspect.
“How do you describe it? It’s tragic. They’re babies. You can’t understand. You can’t sue. You just can’t,” neighbor Susan Dvorak told local affiliate FOX25. The family had lived in the house for about a month, she said.
The officers received a call at approximately 1:30 am Tuesday to Muskogee’s house on Indiana Street, where they arrived to find the suspect – later identified as Pridgeon – outside and carrying a gun, according to police and police. FOX23 in Tulsa.
At some point during the meeting, an officer fired his service rifle once, but missed the suspect, who fled the area, the agency said.
Police at the scene found the adult victim and four children killed inside. A fifth child was rushed to a Tulsa hospital, but could not be saved, police said.
According to FOX23, there were three other children inside the house during the shooting who were not injured.
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The children’s mother, Brittany Anderson, was also shot and wounded, but was in stable condition on Tuesday afternoon, police said.
Hamlin said Pridgeon was not cooperating with investigators. The prison records do not list a lawyer who could speak on behalf of Pridgeon.
Muskogee is a city of just under 40,000 people about 72 kilometers southeast of Tulsa.
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Two of the children who died were students at the local Creek Elementary, Muskogee Public Schools confirmed on Facebook.
“We are saddened by this tragic loss and our deepest condolences go out to everyone affected,” said Dr. Jarod Mendenhall, Superintendent of Public Schools in Muskogee. “No words can adequately express our sadness at losing these students and our thoughts and prayers are with this family.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.