In the small town of Oktaha, Oklahoma, a young man’s life was tragically cut short on the evening of April 22, 2022. Stephen Hill, a 25-year-old male, was shot and killed in an incident that also claimed the life of his father, Benjamin Hill Jr. Stephen, known to his family as a funny and full-of-life individual with a talent for welding, was a resident of Oktaha, a community of fewer than 400 people.
The events that led to the fatal encounter began with a frantic 911 call from a woman
reporting that two men were attempting to run her off the road and had followed her to her property. During the call, the dispatcher heard the sound of gunshots before the line disconnected. When a dispatcher called back, a man named Kyle Owens answered and stated that 'they' were dead in the road and that the weapon was secured inside his residence.
When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they discovered both Stephen and Benjamin Hill deceased from gunshot wounds. The investigation that followed uncovered approximately 28 shell casings at the location. Surveillance footage from a neighbor's camera captured the audio of the shooting, which consisted of about 20 gunshots fired in succession. One neighbor reported witnessing Stephen Hill standing with his hands up at the back of his car before being shot by Owens. Another neighbor overheard Stephen apologizing, saying, 'I'm sorry. I'm sorry, it was a joke,' just moments before the fatal shots were fired.
In the wake of the double homicide, federal authorities took Kyle Owens into custody and charged him with Murder in Indian Country. The case was investigated by both the FBI and Muskogee County authorities due to the involvement of Native American individuals. The family of Stephen and Benjamin Hill, devastated by their loss, expressed their hope for justice to be served.
