Shannon Kepler, Second Degree Murder, Oklahoma 2021

State: Oklahoma
Category: Violent Crime
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndok/pr/shannon-kepler-found-guilty-using-firearm-commission-second-degree-murder-and-assault" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

Shannon Kepler, a 24-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department, has been found guilty of second degree murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country. On August 5, 2014, Kepler shot and killed 19-year-old Jeremey Lake and fired at Lake’s younger brother, Michael Hamilton.

The verdict was handed down after six hours of deliberation by a federal jury. Kepler, 60, was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals moments after the verdict. He will be sentenced on August 11, 2021.

Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson praised the jury for their service and thanked the FBI and Tulsa Police Department for their tireless preparation and successful prosecution of Mr. Kepler in federal court.

Kepler’s attorney argued that he shot Lake in self-defense after Lake “got the jump on him,” pulling a shiny, semi-automatic pistol from his pants pocket. However, expert and forensic evidence proved that the two incidents were unrelated.

The prosecution proved that Kepler had not only heard about the unrelated gun, but that he had also copied down Lake’s last known address on the printed arrest and booking sheet involving Lake. Later, Kepler changed clothes, waited until dark, retrieved his .357 magnum revolver, and drove his wife’s dark SUV to the home where Lake was staying.

Kepler testified that he knew his fellow Tulsa police officers would be hunting for him, his vehicle, and his weapon. He abandoned the SUV at a former Motel 6 just off the Broken Arrow Expressway and eventually turned himself in. Approximately 14 hours after the shooting, his former attorney brought the still-loaded murder weapon into the Tulsa Police Station in a zip lock bag.

Kepler’s actions were in connection with the murder of Jeremey Lake and for assaulting Lake’s brother with a firearm in Indian Country. He is currently being held without bond and will be sentenced on August 11, 2021.

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