TULSA, OK – Jaden Perez, 22, will spend the next decade in federal prison after a late-night shooting outside a Tulsa nightclub left a security guard injured. The incident, which unfolded in August 2021, culminated in Perez’s sentencing Thursday, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. Perez was handed down a 10-year sentence by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci Jr., to be followed by five years of supervised release, running consecutively to a separate Oklahoma state sentence he’s already serving.
The shooting occurred as the nightclub in southeast Tulsa was closing its doors. Perez, according to court documents, engaged in a physical altercation with a security guard. Rather than let it end there, Perez retreated to his friend’s car, returning armed with two firearms: a Kimber .45 caliber pistol and a Taurus 9mm caliber pistol. He then unleashed a barrage of shots across the parking lot, targeting security guards and bystanders.
One security guard bore the brunt of Perez’s reckless gunfire, sustaining a hit to the chest. EMSA personnel determined the guard suffered bruising from what appeared to be a bullet fragment. In a twist, the security guard managed to return fire, striking Perez multiple times before authorities arrived. Perez, bleeding from gunshot wounds, attempted to flee the scene with the aid of a friend who drove off in a vehicle.
Tulsa Police Department officers quickly intercepted the vehicle and apprehended Perez, who was found bleeding in the back seat. He was immediately transported to St. Francis Hospital for treatment. The investigation, a joint effort between the Tulsa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), quickly revealed the full scope of Perez’s actions. He ultimately pleaded guilty to carrying, using, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
U.S. Attorney Johnson emphasized the seriousness of Perez’s disregard for public safety. “Jaden Perez showed a blatant disregard for the safety of others when he fired his gun in the direction of a crowd,” Johnson stated. The case is further complicated by the fact that Perez is a citizen of the Muscogee Nation, and the shooting occurred on Muscogee Nation Reservation land, adding a layer of jurisdictional complexity.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang prosecuted the case. This conviction serves as a stark reminder that brazen acts of violence will not be tolerated, and those who choose to endanger others will face the full weight of federal law. The ATF Dallas Field Division was involved in the investigation.
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