Dispute over fence turns deadly

updated 11:30 p.m. ET Nov. 9, 2006

SKIATOOK, Okla. - A man apparently angry over a fence dispute fatally shot three men before committing suicide in front of police officers, authorities said Thursday.

Howard Hawthorne is believed to have shot his next-door neighbor and two other men, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Capt. Fred Cotton said.

He fired on them with a shotgun as one pulled up a fence post with a tractor, said Undersheriff Brian Edwards.

Hawthorne’s property just outside this Tulsa suburb shares a driveway with his neighbor, and the dispute was over a fence along the driveway, Edwards said.

Skiatook police officers responding to a call about gunshots saw bodies on the ground and Hawthorne on a lawn tractor, Cotton said. As they pulled up, Hawthorne shot and killed himself.

“This is a horrendous deal,” Edwards said. “This is one of the most disturbing crime scenes I’ve seen.”

Hawthorne had complained to sheriff’s deputies earlier Thursday that his neighbors had moved or destroyed his fence, Cotton said. They went to his home, advised him of what he could do and left.

“He seemed satisfied and thanked the deputies,” he said.

About a half-hour later, authorities received an emergency call about shots fired, he said.

The victims were next-door neighbor Anthony Graham, 44; Graham’s son Joshua LeForte, 24; and Dewayne Goodwin, a friend of LeForte’s, Cotton said.

Deputies are interviewing people who witnessed the shooting as they drove past, Edwards said.

MORE FROM CRIME & COURTS

Crime & courts Section Front

Man charged with tampering in Fla. slayings   2 convicted murders escape from Ind. prison FBI: Alamo's followers sell suspect goods Dead woman found in building duct was killed Ex-cons help at-risk youth avert conflicts Thousands swarm desecrated Illinois cemetery Scrub tech causes major hepatitis scare in Colo. Mo. man charged in quadruple killing Young hunter who killed hiker gets 30 days Central Park’s stolen eagles return to roost Crime & courts Section Front   Add Crime & courts headlines to your news reader: