Do you know who murdered Luther? In the early hours of May 23, 1999, a violent act shattered the quiet of a Tulsa, Oklahoma apartment complex. Luther Faye Smith, a Black male, stepped off the front porch of his residence at 1538 W. 59th Street shortly after 1:00 a.m., unknowingly walking into the final moments of his life. Multiple gunshots suddenly rang out, finding their mark and ending Smith's life.
He died at the scene from the multiple gunshot wounds he sustained.
The perpetrators of this brazen attack did not linger. Witnesses reported seeing the suspects flee the scene, heading northbound in a maroon Ford Mustang. The vehicle quickly disappeared into the night, leaving behind a scene of tragedy and a community searching for answers. The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear, and the suddenness of the violence left investigators with few initial leads.
In the years that have passed since Luther Smith's murder, the case has grown cold. Despite the initial witness accounts of the getaway vehicle, no arrests have ever been made in connection with his death. The identities of the suspect or suspects remain unknown to the public, and they have never been apprehended or brought to justice for their actions on that spring morning. The Tulsa Police Department continues to classify the death of Luther Smith as an unsolved homicide, a cold case file waiting for the one piece of information that might finally bring closure to his family and friends. The case remains open, and authorities encourage anyone with information to come forward.
