In the summer of 2021, a young man's life was cut short in Wellston, Oklahoma, following a dispute with a neighbor that escalated to a fatal conclusion. Lucas James Leon Goss, a 21-year-old White/Caucasian male, was known by his loved ones for his passion for animals, his love of building with Legos, and his enjoyment of horror movies. He was described as tough but with a tender heart, especially when it came to his family.
His life, however, came to a violent end on July 5, 2021.
The events of that day unfolded from an ongoing argument over property. Goss's neighbor, 38-year-old Freddie Antonie Seamster, had been building a fence on land he had purchased from Goss's mother, which became a point of contention. On that Monday afternoon, the disagreement turned physical. Seamster claimed that Goss approached him in a threatening manner, wielding a large stick. In response, Seamster retrieved a. 40 caliber pistol.
Seamster fired his weapon, striking Goss twice. One bullet went through his stomach, while the other passed through his arm and into his stomach. Emergency services were called, and Goss was transported to a hospital, but he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. It was Seamster himself who called 911 to report the shooting, and he surrendered to law enforcement when they arrived at his home.
Following the incident, Freddie Antonie Seamster was arrested and charged with first-degree murder with malice aforethought. The case proceeded through the legal system, with Seamster maintaining that he acted in self-defense. His attorneys argued that Goss had threatened him and his family on multiple occasions. In a turn of events that brought anguish to Goss's family, the first-degree murder charge against Seamster was dismissed in May 2022. The District Attorney's office stated that they did not believe they could secure a conviction, citing evidence that supported Seamster's self-defense claim, including testimony that Goss's wounds were consistent with him being in a swinging motion when he was shot. The case was dismissed without prejudice, leaving the possibility of future charges if new evidence were to emerge.
