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Oklahoma City man sentenced to life for killing man he thought was rival gang member

Tommy Long, 20, was convicted of first-degree murder in the June 8, 2011, shooting death of tree-trimmer Jerry Clark, 45, who prosecutors said was not affiliated with a gang.
by Tim Willert Published: December 20, 2012

A judge sentenced an Oklahoma City gang member Wednesday to life in prison for killing a man he mistook for a rival gang member.

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

District Judge Glenn Jones also sentenced Long to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit robbery. Additionally, Long pleaded guilty Wednesday to an unrelated burglary charge and received two years in prison.

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

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

Clark, a tree trimmer, was wearing a work shirt and had just left work, prosecutors said. He was not affiliated with a gang, Oklahoma County Assistant District Attorney Dan Gridley said after Long's conviction.

Co-defendant Davion Pollard is awaiting trial on a murder charge. A third defendant, Sean Austin Anderson, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and received 10 years in prison plus 10 years for violating his probation in an unrelated case. A fourth defendant, Chase Devon Calton, pleaded guilty to a murder charge and was sentenced as a youthful offender because he was 14 when Clark was killed.

Calton could be sentenced to prison for life if he fails to complete a treatment program administered by the state Office of Juvenile Affairs. has disabled the comments for this article.
by Tim Willert
Education Reporter
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