In the quiet, late-night hours of September 9, 2015, in the small town of Gracemont, Oklahoma, the lives of Prince Robertson and his girlfriend were tragically cut short. Robertson, a 27-year-old Black / African American male, and 22-year-old Kayla Martin were discovered with fatal gunshot wounds outside their home. The grim scene shattered the peace of the close-knit community.
An altercation of an unknown nature had reportedly taken place outside the couple's residence.
Their neighbor, D'Veric Jessie, became involved in the escalating situation. Jessie, who lived nearby, armed himself with a 9mm long gun and confronted Robertson and Martin. The confrontation turned violent, and Jessie opened fire, striking both individuals.
After the shooting, it was Jessie himself who dialed 911 to report the incident. When authorities arrived, they found Robertson and Martin lying on the ground. Not long into the investigation, D'Veric Jessie admitted to being the shooter and was promptly taken into custody.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was called in to assist the Caddo County Sheriff's Office with the investigation into the double homicide. Jessie faced two counts of first-degree murder, as well as a charge of possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction. He was held in the Caddo County Jail without bond. While Jessie did not deny his involvement in the killings, his account of the reasons behind his actions began to change as the investigation progressed.
