In the small town of Kingfisher, Oklahoma, a dispute between two acquaintances escalated to a fatal encounter on Halloween night of 2017. Arron Smith, a 21-year-old male, was shot and killed by 20-year-old Travis Michael Leatherwood in a confrontation fueled by accusations of theft.
The conflict began when Leatherwood accused Smith of stealing marijuana from him. This disagreement played out on Facebook before spilling into the real world.
Smith, accompanied by two other individuals, drove to Leatherwood's residence. Anticipating a confrontation, Leatherwood armed himself with a. 22 caliber rifle and two BB guns, the latter of which he reportedly intended to use as a scare tactic.
When Smith arrived and entered Leatherwood's home through the back door, the situation turned violent. Leatherwood fired the rifle, striking Smith in the shoulder. Despite the serious injury, Smith managed to get back to the vehicle he arrived in and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his wound.
Following the shooting, Leatherwood's mother contacted the police at his request. He was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder. During the investigation, it was discovered that Leatherwood had been cultivating marijuana on his property. He claimed he shot Smith in self-defense, stating he was in fear for his life. However, prosecutors moved forward with the murder charge. Leatherwood was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder for the death of Arron Smith.
