On a Friday just before noon, tragedy struck in the parking lot of a convenience store in Oklahoma City. Jamir James, a 19-year-old Black male, was with a group of people at Kelly's Market, located at the intersection of Northeast 36th Street and Kelley Avenue, on February 23, 2024. Suddenly, a white vehicle pulled up, and its occupants emerged, opening fire on the group.
The chaotic scene left three individuals hit by the spray of bullets.
While two of the victims sustained injuries that were not life-threatening, James was critically wounded by a gunshot to his upper thigh. He was rushed to OU Medical Center and underwent hours of surgery. Despite the medical efforts, Jamir James succumbed to his injuries three days later, on February 26, 2024. His death marked the ninth homicide in Oklahoma City for the year. Investigators at the scene recovered both handgun and rifle shell casings from the pavement.
The investigation quickly gained momentum, aided by surveillance footage that captured the shooting. On the same day as the incident, police tracked the suspects' vehicle to a home in Spencer. They arrested a 16-year-old, Leonard Newton, who was found in the getaway car. The primary suspect, Ziyon Larkins, who had just turned 18 on the day of the shooting, attempted to flee from another vehicle into a nearby wooded area. As he ran, he reportedly threw away seven baggies containing Fentanyl pills. Larkins was apprehended and subsequently faced charges not only for the shooting but also for drug trafficking.
During questioning, Larkins allegedly confessed to the crime, revealing a motive of retaliation. He told investigators he recognized one of the individuals in the parking lot as someone who had harmed a friend of his four years earlier. Larkins was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center on charges of first-degree murder and assault and battery with a deadly weapon. The investigation continued, and on March 27, 2024, a third person was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting, also facing charges of first-degree murder and two counts of assault and battery.
