Thomas Lee Knox, Voluntary Manslaughter, Oklahoma 2023

A heated argument turned deadly in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when 39-year-old Thomas Lee Knox shot and killed Paul Schultz on November 20, 2023. Knox, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation, admitted to getting into an altercation with Schultz, pulling out a firearm, and shooting him in the leg.

Video surveillance from the area caught the altercation on tape, showing Knox fleeing the scene in a vehicle while Schultz crawled away. Tulsa County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call and found Schultz wounded. He later died from the gunshot wound, according to the medical examiner's report.

Knox will spend 15 years behind bars for his crime, followed by three years of supervised release. The 180-month sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Raul M. Arias-Marxuach. Knox will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Hockenbury and Dennis Fries prosecuted it. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities.

Project Safe Neighborhoods brings together law enforcement and community organizations to prevent violence and make neighborhoods safer. The program was launched in 2021 with a violent crime reduction strategy based on four core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy, supporting community-based organizations, setting focused enforcement priorities, and measuring results.

Knox's case is a sobering reminder of the dangers of gun violence and the importance of community-based initiatives to prevent it. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Defendant/Respondent: Thomas Lee Knox

Criminal Charges: Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country

City and State: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Exact Date: November 20, 2023

Sentence or Outcome: 180 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndok/pr/man-sentenced-voluntary-manslaughter-after-heated-exchange