In the quiet town of Duncan, Oklahoma, the evening of May 26, 2019, was shattered by a fatal act of violence that claimed the life of 51-year-old Odis W. Turner Jr., a Black/African American male. The tragic events unfolded around 10 p.m. when Stephens County deputies were dispatched to a residence on West Osage Road. There, in the front yard, they discovered Turner with a gunshot wound to his chest.
Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to Steven Charles Ekaitis, 38, who was taken into custody. According to initial reports, the incident stemmed from a domestic dispute earlier in the day between Turner and his girlfriend. The girlfriend had reportedly sought refuge at Ekaitis's home, where the situation escalated. Turner had allegedly made threats towards both his girlfriend and Ekaitis. Later that night, Turner arrived at Ekaitis's residence, leading to the fatal confrontation.
Ekaitis claimed that he acted in self-defense, stating that Turner was attempting to break into his home by kicking down the front door. He alleged that he fired a single shot through the door in an attempt to stop the intrusion, which fatally struck Turner. However, the narrative grew more complex as the investigation progressed. A roommate of Ekaitis provided testimony that suggested the shooting may have been premeditated.
The roommate alleged that Ekaitis and Turner's girlfriend had purchased a firearm and practiced shooting at a local range before the incident occurred. It was also claimed that they had sent text messages to Turner, seemingly to provoke him into coming to the residence. Further complicating the matter, the roommate stated that Ekaitis was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the shooting. Following his arrest, Steven Charles Ekaitis was held on a $5 million bond as the legal process began to unravel the conflicting accounts of that tragic night.
