A World War I veteran was the first victim identified by forensic teams from several mass graves as a victim of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, which devastated a section of the city known as “Black Wall Street,” the Associated Press reported.

Intermountain Forensics confirmed the identity of the remains using DNA from a descendant of CL Daniel's brother. Associated Press.

“One family can give a proper burial to a loved one who has been missing for over a century,” Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum said, the media reported.

Today, thanks to the efforts of many people, I can announce that for the first time since we began our search five years ago, we have identified a victim of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

From the beginning, at the forefront of this search have been the victims of the 1921 Tulsa horse race… pic.twitter.com/ip63Qz4v0u

— GT Bynum (@gtbynum) July 12, 2024

Researchers have excavated more than 120 graves and extracted DNA from about 30 bodies, making Daniel the first Tulsa massacre victim to be identified, according to the outlet.

Investigators were reportedly able to identify Daniel after discovering a letter sent in 1936 from a lawyer representing his mother.

But researchers were unable to determine Daniel's cause of death: “We found no evidence of a gunshot wound, but if the bullet hadn't hit the bone or remained inside the body, how could it be detected?” said forensic anthropologist Phoebe Stubblefield. (Related: 107-year-old man testifies before Congress about 1921 Tulsa race massacre)

According to the media report, the Tulsa Race Massacre took place on June 1, 1921, when a white mob descended on the Greenwood neighborhood, a predominantly black neighborhood. The riot was reportedly sparked by accusations of assault against a young black man, sparking racial tensions.

The tragedy has been remembered for more than 100 years, and some survivors of the attack are seeking compensation from the Oklahoma state government, according to the Associated Press.