In the late hours of September 18, 2019, in Lawton, Oklahoma, Mark Gustafson, a 31-year-old male, died from a single gunshot wound. The incident occurred at a motorcycle clubhouse located at 4308 NW Pollard. Gustafson was a United States Army veteran and a volunteer firefighter. He was also a member of the Deadman motorcycle club Nomads.
According to witness statements, the events leading to Gustafson's death were part of a 'biker club initiation.'
Jeremiah Brown, a 40-year-old fellow club member, was behind the bar when Gustafson placed a 9mm pistol on it. Gustafson then handed the pistol to Brown and instructed him to pull the trigger, as the firearm was not supposed to be loaded. With the gun pointed at his own head, Gustafson told Brown, 'if you trust me,' to pull the trigger. Brown later told investigators he did not know if the gun was loaded and had not seen Gustafson check the chamber. When he pulled the trigger, the gun discharged. The state medical examiner's report confirmed that Gustafson died from a gunshot wound at very close range, with a muzzle imprint left on his forehead. The report also noted multiple abrasions and contusions on his left ear and a fractured nasal bone.
In the aftermath of the shooting, an arrest warrant was issued for Jeremiah Brown on February 28, 2020. He was charged with second-degree manslaughter. Investigators learned that earlier in the evening, Brown and other club members had been involved in a fight, and there was suspicion that Brown may have been involved in setting up the altercation. Brown is described as being 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing 213 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair. The warrant for his arrest carried a bond of $100,000.
