Published: July 21, 2008 09:06 am      

News Briefs: 7-20

On July 13, police apprehended a suspect they believed to be linked to the shooting death of 16-year-old Larell Jamez Kemp.

The suspect, an 18-year-old man from Midwest City, was identified by witnesses and is being held at the Oklahoma County jail. He has been charged with first degree murder.

The shooting occurred at the Orchard Springs Apartments, 1312 N. Midwest Blvd., in what many believe to be gang related. Police have not confirmed if the shooting was in fact gang related, but Kemp’s name did appear in the Midwest City Police Department’s gang database.

The altercation involved as many as 20 people when two groups of people came into contact with one another at the apartments. According to reports, words were exchanged and then shots were fired. Cameron Jordon, 20, was also struck in the leg by a bullet, but his injuries were not life threatening.



The city council member of Spencer’s fourth ward has resigned and the position is now open.

Spencer city manager Louis Smitherman said that anyone interested in helping out the community and providing service should come by Spencer City Hall, 8200 N.E. 36 St., and apply for the position. The position is chosen by appointment, not by election.



Deputies of the Oklahoma County Sheriff and members of the Midwest City Police Department responded to a shooting call at 2:30 p.m. on July 17. When police arrived, Mikah Ryan Smith was found in a car with a gunshot wound to the neck. He was taken to Midwest City Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to police reports.

The man who police say appears to be the shooter was also at the scene and was armed with a 12-gauge shotgun when he confronted Smith. According to the shooter’s statement in police reports, the shooter confronted Smith when Smith was attempting to break into the shooter’s shed on property the shooter owns. According to the shooter, Smith was a known burglar. The shooter attempted to stop the apparent burglar-to-be from leaving the scene. At some point, according to the report and the shooter’s statement, Smith got into a small vehicle and attempted to hit the shooter. The apparent woupld-be-victim shooter fired one shot into the car’s windshield while it was reportedly trying to strike him. The shot struck Smith.

The Oklahoma County Sherrif’s Office and the Midwest City Police Department are investigating the incident. According to the report, the investigation is in the early stages and it would be premature to speculate on whether any charges will be filed against the shooter.