In the autumn of 2020, the life of Lionel Lee Rivers, a 52-year-old Black man, was tragically cut short in his north Tulsa, Oklahoma home. Known affectionately as "Lee" and the "Candy Man" for the candy store he ran from his house, Rivers was a beloved figure in his community. He was a dedicated minister at the Outreach Ministry of Love Church, where he had been ordained in 1991, and was known for his readiness to share the word of God and lend a helping hand to those in need.
On the
night of October 15, 2020, a friend discovered Rivers' body inside his home just after midnight. He had been shot in the upper torso. The investigation into his death quickly pointed to a robbery gone tragically wrong. Earlier that day, Rivers had been to a casino and had spoken of his winnings to others. This information is believed to have made him a target.
Authorities moved swiftly, and two suspects were soon taken into custody. Clearance Holmes and Stephon Thompson were arrested and booked into the Tulsa County Jail the day after the discovery of Rivers' body. According to the police, Holmes was the one who robbed and shot Rivers, while Thompson served as the getaway driver.
The narrative of that fatal evening, as pieced together by investigators, suggests that Rivers had let the two men into his home. They were reportedly looking at car rims when Holmes produced a gun and shot Rivers twice. Before fleeing, the suspects unplugged Rivers' security system, though they left the unit at the scene. Law enforcement officials stated that they were not seeking any other individuals in connection with the murder, bringing a swift, though somber, development to the investigation of the death of a man deeply cherished by his community.
