Arraignment Date Set for Tulsa Shootings Suspects

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Two men accused of killing three people and wounding two others in a shooting spree that terrified a predominantly black Tulsa neighborhood now face an October arraignment.

Jake England, 20, and Alvin Watts, 33, had been scheduled to appear in court Monday, but the arraignment was delayed until Oct. 22.

The two have been charged with first-degree murder in the April 6 deaths of William Allen, Bobby Clark and Dannaer Fields. All three were shot while walking near their homes. Two other who were shot survived.

England and Watts also face hate crimes charges. All five victims were black, and authorities say England may have targeted black people because he wanted to avenge his father's shooting death by a black man two years ago.

However, England, who describes himself as Cherokee Indian, has said he has no ill-will toward black people.

During a two-day preliminary hearing for the pair, England's uncle testified that England and Watts treated the mass shootings as a contest. He said Watts told him a day after the killings that they each shot two people and England shot the fifth victim ``that would break the tie.''

The district attorney's office is still deciding whether to seek the death penalty against one or both men.

England's attorneys tried last week to have a prospective trial judge removed from the case because he signed off on England's arrest warrant.

Their motion was denied by District Judge Kurt Glassco on Thursday, forcing England's attorneys to file a written motion explaining why they want the judge disqualified if they want him to reconsider. They have not yet done that.