In the early evening of a Sunday in Oklahoma City, the life of 43-year-old Jessie Marion Myers, a former EMT and paramedic, was tragically cut short. On November 25, 2018, while inside his vehicle at a 7-Eleven convenience store located at 7424 S. Walker, Jessie was fatally shot. The incident occurred at approximately 6:05 p.m. After being shot, he was transported to a local hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Jessie, who was born on May 9, 1975, had a history of serving his community, not only as a paramedic in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area but also as a fire protection specialist in the U.S. Air Force. He was a husband and a father to three daughters.
The events that unfolded at the convenience store were part of a violent rampage. After shooting Jessie, the gunman reportedly entered the store and fired at a clerk, but missed. He then went back outside and shot a woman, Chiquita Jones, who had just pulled into the parking lot. The assailant then stole her vehicle and fled the scene. Ms. Jones survived the shooting but was listed in critical condition. Authorities stated that there was no known relationship between the shooter and any of the victims. Witnesses reportedly told police that Jessie was shot after the gunman had demanded his keys.
Following a brief vehicle pursuit, Oklahoma City police apprehended a suspect just a few miles from the crime scene, in the 4900 block of S. Ollie Avenue. The suspect was identified as 52-year-old Eric Deon Hardesty. He was taken into custody and, after a brief interview with homicide detectives, was booked into jail. The complaints against him included first-degree murder, shooting with intent to kill, robbery, and illegally possessing a firearm. Reports indicated that Hardesty had a prior criminal history that included convictions for child abuse and forgery.
