Jury convicts gang member of murder in case of mistaken identity

Tommy Long, 19, was found guilty of killing Jerry Clark, 45, who was not a gang member but was targeted because his work shirt was the same color as that of a rival gang, prosecutors said
By Tim Willert Published: November 9, 2012

A jury has convicted an Oklahoma City gang member of killing a man he mistook for a rival gang member, prosecutors said.

Tommy Long, 20, was found guilty Thursday of first-degree murder in the June 8, 2011, shooting death of Jerry Clark, 45.

Clark was found shot to death in his vehicle in the 2100 block of NE 28 Street. He reportedly lived with his girlfriend but received mail at his aunt's house, and was shot to death while leaving her home after a visit, police said.

Prosecutors alleged Long, a Neighborhood Crips gang member, and three others intended to rob Clark, who they thought was a Hoover Crips gang member because he was wearing an orange shirt.

Clark, a tree trimmer, was wearing a work shirt and had just left work when was gunned down, prosecutors said. He was not affiliated with a gang, Oklahoma County Assistant District Attorney Dan Gridley said Friday.

Long and the others lied in wait for Clark while he visited his aunt and tried to rob him as he backed out of her driveway, Gridley said.

“When he tried to flee they shot into his vehicle and tried to kill him,” the prosecutor said, adding that 12 rounds penetrated Clark's 2008 Cadillac.

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by Tim Willert
Education Reporter
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