On a summer afternoon in Oklahoma City, a dispute born from a complex love triangle ended in the tragic death of 21-year-old Samuel Ellison. The Black male was shot on Saturday, July 17, 2021, at a residence on the city's northeast side.
Officers responded to a call about a shooting at a home in the 2000 block of NE 28th Street at approximately 3:20 p.m.. Upon arrival, they found Ellison suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency medical attention was provided at the scene, and he was then transported to a local hospital. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Samuel Ellison succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the shooting, which marked the 46th homicide in Oklahoma City that year, soon uncovered a volatile situation involving Ellison, another man, and a woman with whom both were romantically involved. According to police, both men were at the residence waiting for the woman when an altercation broke out between them.
The confrontation escalated, leading to the shooting of Ellison. In the wake of the incident, authorities identified 19-year-old Latavies Dejear as the suspected shooter. Dejear was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Ellison's death. He was then booked into the Oklahoma County Jail. Initially, police had not identified any suspects and sought information from the public, but the investigation ultimately led to Dejear's arrest.
