In the early morning hours of Friday, October 11, 2024, the life of 35-year-old Montrez Thomas was tragically cut short in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Thomas, a man known to some by the nicknames 'Tae-Tae' or 'Memphis,' had entered The Gas Chamber dispensary located near Pine and Peoria. While inside, he made a purchase and soon became engaged in a heated verbal argument with a store clerk, identified as Michael Bell.
The disagreement quickly escalated into a physical confrontation in the lobby of
the business. During the struggle, Bell reportedly brandished a firearm. Another employee at the dispensary intervened, successfully breaking up the fight and taking the initial weapon from Bell. However, the altercation was far from over. Bell then proceeded to an office area within the dispensary, where he armed himself with a second gun.
Returning from the office, Bell fired at Thomas, striking him in the torso. When Tulsa Police officers responded to a shooting call at the dispensary around 1:40 a.m., they discovered Montrez Thomas deceased on the floor. The investigation was aided by video evidence recovered from the scene, which provided a clear account of the events that transpired.
Following the incident, law enforcement identified Michael Bell as the suspect and initiated a search. Bell was subsequently located and arrested. He has been charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm after a former conviction of a felony, as he has previous felony convictions for attempted armed robbery and false impersonation. Bell was booked into the Tulsa County Jail, bringing a swift, though somber, development to the investigation into the death of Montrez Thomas.
