On a tragic Memorial Day in 2005, a wave of violence swept through a quiet mobile home park in southeast Oklahoma City, leaving a trail of devastation and claiming the life of 56-year-old Terry Smith and three others. The brutal attack, fueled by a misguided quest for revenge, unfolded with shocking speed and brutality, forever altering the lives of a community and the families of the victims.
The origins of the horrific event lay in a motorcycle accident that had left the father of the
main perpetrator, Earl Postelle, with lasting injuries. Mistakenly blaming Donnie Swindle for the incident, a thirst for vengeance began to fester. On that fateful May 30th, Earl’s sons, Gilbert and David Postelle, along with another man named Randal Wade Byus, descended upon Swindle’s residence armed with assault rifles.
What followed was a merciless onslaught. Terry Smith, along with Amy Wright, James 'Donnie' Swindle Jr., and James Alderson Jr., were present at the mobile home when the attackers arrived. Without warning, a barrage of nearly 100 shots rained down upon them. The scene was one of chaos and terror as the victims were mercilessly gunned down. The calculated and brutal nature of the killings sent shockwaves through the city and left law enforcement with a complex and grim investigation.
The ensuing investigation quickly led authorities to the Postelle family. Randal Wade Byus cooperated with the police, providing crucial information that implicated Gilbert and David Postelle in the quadruple homicide. Arrests were made, and the brothers faced capital murder charges. The patriarch, Earl Postelle, was also implicated, but due to the severe brain injury sustained in his motorcycle accident, he was deemed incompetent to stand trial and later passed away.
The legal proceedings brought the full scope of the tragedy to light. David Postelle was ultimately sentenced to life in prison for his role in the murders. For his part in the heinous crime, Gilbert Postelle was convicted on four counts of murder and, after years of appeals, was executed by lethal injection in February 2022. The case left an indelible scar on Oklahoma City, a somber reminder of a day when a baseless vendetta spiraled into a senseless act of mass violence.
