In the early morning hours of August 19, 2018, Gregory Meidl, a 53-year-old man, was shot and killed in the driveway of his Bartlesville, Oklahoma home. Known for being proactive about the safety of his neighborhood, Meidl had gone outside to confront individuals he suspected were breaking into cars. It was during this confrontation that he was fatally shot once in the head.
The Bartlesville Police Department swiftly launched an investigation, which was significantly aided by
surveillance footage from the area. This evidence led them to identify three suspects: 18-year-old Tyler Thomison, 20-year-old Thomas Alexander, and 17-year-old Terry 'T.J.' Donaldson Jr. The three were apprehended during a traffic stop in the nearby town of Nowata. Investigators learned that the trio had intentionally driven to more affluent neighborhoods with the intent of burglarizing vehicles.
Following the arrests, the three suspects faced legal proceedings. Terry Donaldson Jr. was charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm after a delinquency adjudication, two counts of second-degree burglary, and knowingly concealing stolen property. He alleged that he shot Meidl in self-defense after Meidl approached him with a bat. Donaldson was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder, a conviction that was later upheld by the Oklahoma Criminal Court of Appeals.
Tyler Thomison and Thomas Alexander were charged with second-degree murder, possession of a firearm after a delinquency adjudication, and two counts of second-degree burglary. In August 2019, both Thomison and Alexander reached plea agreements, pleading guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for 15-year prison sentences. Their agreements included stipulations that they cooperate and potentially testify at Donaldson's trial. Both were also convicted on the burglary charges.
