On a late summer night in Elk City, Oklahoma, the life of 32-year-old Robert Earl Turnbow, a Caucasian male, was brought to an abrupt and violent end. The events of August 1, 2019, unfolded around midnight when police were dispatched to a residence in Beckham County following reports of a shooting. Turnbow, known to his friends as 'Big Robb,' had provided a ride to a female acquaintance from a local bar to the home of 50-year-old Kevin Harris.
According to the woman's account, she went
inside to speak with Harris while Turnbow remained outside. During their conversation, Harris reportedly produced a firearm. When Turnbow opened the door to the home, he was met with gunfire from Harris, who shot him twice. As the woman fled the scene to summon help, she heard the chilling sound of two additional gunshots. The authorities arrived to a grim scene, and Turnbow was pronounced dead.
In the wake of the shooting, the Elk City Police Department launched an investigation that quickly centered on Kevin Harris as the primary suspect. He was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Robert Turnbow's death. The case garnered significant attention within the community, with some individuals speculating that Harris had acted in self-defense.
Despite these claims, the legal proceedings moved forward, and in 2021, Kevin Harris pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. He was convicted and sentenced to a prison term for his role in Turnbow's death. However, his time behind bars was not lengthy, as he was released on parole in 2022. Harris is expected to remain under probation monitoring until 2031, a lingering consequence of the night that ended in tragedy and left a lasting impact on the Elk City community.
