In the quiet town of Perry, Oklahoma, the holiday season was shattered by a tragic event in the early morning hours of Saturday, December 28, 2025. Officers from the Perry Police Department rushed to a home in the vicinity of the 200 block of Birch Street following a report of a shooting. Inside, they discovered 32-year-old James Aaron Russell suffering from a fatal gunshot wound.
Despite the immediate efforts of emergency responders to render aid, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Present at the residence was Russell's husband, 39-year-old Kenton Dale Thedford. After an initial investigation by the officers present, Thedford was taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting. He was subsequently booked into the Noble County Detention Center on a charge of homicide. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was called in to assist the Perry Police Department with the ongoing investigation into the circumstances that led to the deadly encounter.
James Aaron Russell was a man who found his greatest joy in being a father to his son. He was known for his love of reading the Bible, writing poetry, and playing video games. A graduate of Mulhall-Orlando High School, he worked as a general laborer and handyman. Those who knew him described him as someone who cherished making jokes and being "goofy" with his son.
The investigation into his death is continuing, with law enforcement seeking to piece together the events that transpired on that tragic morning. Authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward to assist in the ongoing inquiry.
