In the spring of 2021, a life was tragically cut short in Lawton, Oklahoma. LaVonte Marquis Lawler, a 28-year-old Black man, was fatally shot on April 17th in the parking lot of the Garrett's Landings Apartments, situated at 1321 SW 27th Street. The single gunshot, fired at close range to his mouth, resulted in his immediate death, leaving a community in shock and a family to mourn an untimely loss.
The investigation into the homicide led authorities to 37-year-old Frank Alexander Cooper
III, a resident of Lawton. Cooper was subsequently arrested and faced the grave charge of first-degree murder in connection with Lawler's death. The legal proceedings that followed were marked by complexity, with conflicting testimonies painting a challenging picture of the events that transpired on that fateful day. Cooper consistently maintained his innocence throughout the trial, which took place in January of 2023.
After hearing the evidence presented, a Comanche County jury ultimately acquitted Cooper of the first-degree murder charge. However, the trial did result in a conviction for a different offense. Cooper was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. This conviction, coupled with a prior criminal history that included convictions for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and aggravated robbery, led to a significant prison sentence. A Comanche County District Judge sentenced him to 30 years behind bars, closing a chapter in a case that, while not ending in a murder conviction, still delivered a measure of justice.
