In the early hours of a weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the body of 32-year-old Perry Wallace was discovered by a bus driver in the quiet parking lot of a local church. It was Sunday, January 1, 2017, but investigators would soon determine that his life had tragically ended the day before. An examination of the scene and surveillance footage from the church revealed a grim timeline.
Muzzle flashes from a firearm were captured on video early Saturday morning, indicating that Wallace’s death was the final homicide of a record-breaking year for the city. He had been shot multiple times.
For a period, the investigation into the shooting death of Perry Wallace continued without any publicly named individuals of interest. The initial reports from the Tulsa police confirmed the violent nature of his death but offered no immediate answers as to who was responsible. The case remained under active investigation as authorities worked to piece together the events that led to the fatal encounter in the church parking lot, leaving a family to mourn and a community to wonder who could have committed such an act.
After months of investigation by the Tulsa Police Department's homicide unit, a significant breakthrough was made in the case. Detectives were able to identify two suspects believed to be responsible for the death of Perry Wallace. Arrest warrants were issued for Deouijorea Wilson and Rufus Figueroa. The dedicated work of the investigators led them to locate and apprehend both men, taking them into custody to face charges for their alleged involvement in the murder.
Following their arrests, Deouijorea Wilson and Rufus Figueroa were both charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Perry Wallace. The charges brought a sense of resolution to the long-standing investigation, initiating the next phase of the judicial process. The case would then move to the courts to determine the guilt or innocence of the accused, marking a pivotal step towards justice for Wallace and his family.
