(Newser)
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Two men accused of killing three black pedestrians and injuring two others in Tulsa shootings have confessed to the crimes, according to authorities. Jake England, 19, said he shot two people, and Alvin Watts, 32, admitted to shooting three, say police. Investigators determined that one of England's victims and two shot by Watts died, reports the New York Times. Officials would not discuss the pair's motives because the investigation isn't complete.
The shootings occurred, however, close to the second anniversary of the murder of England's father by a black man, which he noted on his Facebook page. Investigators are attempting to determine whether the shootings should be considered hate crimes. Both men appeared via closed-circuit video in court yesterday at a hearing; they'll be arraigned next week. Witnesses in one attack said a white pickup truck pulled over to the curb next to a group of blacks and asked for directions when someone inside opened fire, wounding two. “They just came up and asked where a certain address was, and he told them it was down the street, and they just started shooting,” said a friend of one of the wounded men.
