Update: 6 murder counts filed in multiple homicide case
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| David Allen
Tyner |
By Staff and Wire Reports
OKLAHOMA CITY — A Cherokee Nation citizen faces six counts of first-degree murder in the fatal shootings of four people whose bodies were found inside a burning house.
Prosecutors accused David Allen Tyner, 28, of Locust Grove, on Friday of shooting, stabbing and then burning Brooke Phillips, Jennifer Ermey, Milagrous Barrera and Mark Barrientos on Nov. 9. Because Phillips and Barrera were pregnant, two more murder counts were filed.
Phillips was a prostitute who was featured on the HBO reality series "Cathouse."
According to a police affidavit, a witness who was inside the residence that day told police that a person known as "Hooligan" was arguing with one of the victims when the shootings occurred. The witness ran away.
Investigators say "Hooligan" was later identified as Tyner.
Tyner turned himself in on Nov. 17 to the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office in Pryor after being named a suspect in the case. He was booked in the Oklahoma County Jail at 4:45 p.m. on Nov. 17.
“He walked into the sheriff’s office and said ‘I’m David Tyner, I hear
you guys are looking for me,’” said Mayes County Sheriff Frank Cantey.
“He was pretty calm.”
Tyner was a two-time state champion wrestler from Salina who finished
his high school career at Locust Grove, where he was a two-time
All-American and a state runner-up his senior year in 2000, said Johnny
Cook, Tyner’s wrestling coach at Locust Grove.
“I can’t believe this,” Cook said. “I’m just shocked. The guy I know, there’s no way he could ever do that.”
Cook said he learned of Tyner’s arrest from his wife who had seen a
report on television. He said he remembers Tyner being compassionate.
“He obviously had a strong work ethic and a strong will to succeed,
being a two-time All-American and a state runner-up,” Cook said. “But
he was very kind-hearted, too. If someone was being bullied or picked
on in school, he would take up for that individual. That’s the David I
knew.”
After high school, Tyner wrestled at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and later joined the U.S. Marine Corps, Cook said.
After a stint in the military, Tyner became a mixed martial arts fighter and compiled a 6-1 record.
An attorney for Tyner couldn't immediately be reached for comment.