In the summer of 2015, a dispute over a set of car keys in Tulsa, Oklahoma, escalated into a fatal encounter for 33-year-old Craig Wingard. A former U.S. Marine, Wingard was a White male known for his love of the outdoors, including hunting, fishing, and BMX biking. His life was cut short after a violent altercation outside an apartment complex in East Woodrow on July 5, 2015.
On that day, Wingard had gone to the residence to retrieve a stolen item.
As he was leaving, 17-year-old William Dean Campbell and his girlfriend, Sarah Helton, arrived in a vehicle. An argument ensued, during which Campbell fired a. 22-caliber rifle from the driver's side window, striking Wingard multiple times. The couple then fled the scene, leaving Wingard bleeding in the parking lot. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries three days later on July 8, 2015.
The investigation quickly identified Campbell and Helton as the prime suspects. Campbell was sought on a first-degree murder charge, while Helton faced charges of being an accessory. Campbell was apprehended, and during questioning, he admitted to firing the weapon but claimed his intention was only to intimidate Wingard. Helton was also later arrested.
Despite his age, the court decided that William Campbell would be tried as an adult. A jury found him guilty of first-degree murder and a weapons charge. He was sentenced to life in prison for the murder, with an additional five years for pointing a firearm at Wingard's female friend who was present at the scene. In Oklahoma, a life sentence requires a person to serve 45 years. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals later upheld Campbell's life sentence.
