Two held over US killing spree

Police said it is too soon to say whether the attacks were racially motivated but one suspect may have been trying to avenge his father's shooting by a black man.

Two others were wounded in Friday's rampage. All five victims were black.

Police spokesman Jason Willingham said investigators were considering many possible motives but revenge appeared to be a factor.

One of the suspects, 19-year-old Jake England, posted a Facebook update the day before the shootings which said: "Today is two years that my dad has been gone shot by a fucking nigger."

He wrote: "It's hard not to go off" given the anniversary and the suicide of his fiancee Sheran Wilde in January.

The other suspect, 32-year-old Alvin Watts, is white, while Mr England has been described as white and Native American.

Family friend Susan Sevenstar said Mr England was "a good kid" who "was not in his right mind.

"If anybody is trying to say this is a racial situation, they've got things confused," said Ms Sevenstar.

Police arrested the pair early on Sunday morning. Authorities plan to charge them with murder and other offences.

Warren Blakney, president of the Tulsa National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, said the arrests came as a big relief.

"The community once again can go about its business without fear of there being a shooter on the streets," Mr Blakney said.

The shootings come at a fraught moment after unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin was shot dead by a neighbourhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Florida.

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