Oklahoma: Casino Murder Suspect Found Not Guilty, Released

A man who was arrested for the death of a person at a casino in Oklahoma last summer was recently released from custody.

Jury Finds the Suspect Not Guilty

The 20-year-old Gunter, Texas resident, identified with the initials A.L., was up for trial after a murder that took place at Choctaw Casino and Resort-Durant. Law enforcement arrested the man on June 9, 2024. On the next day, A.L. was charged with one count of first-degree murder for the suspected killing of a 51-year-old man identified with the initials P.W.

While initially, the suspect faced a murder charge, it was later reduced to manslaughter. The 20-year-old man, accused of killing the 51-year-old victim pleaded not guilty.

Earlier this week, a Bryan County jury found A.L. not guilty of manslaughter for the death that occurred at Choctaw Casino Durant’s parking garage, KTEN reports. While the murder suspect was previously held in a Bryan County Jail, following the jury’s verdict, a judge ordered the man to be released.

Information about the jury’s verdict remains scarce. It is unclear whether or not the 20-year-old suspect acted in self-defense. Whatever the case may be, if the suspect was convicted of murder, he would have faced a lengthy prison sentence.

A Violent Encounter Results in the Death of 51-Year-Old Man

In June last year, law enforcement responded to a call about a person stabbed in the face with a screwdriver at the parking garage of Choctaw Casino and Resort-Durant. A medic team arrived at the crime scene and tried treating the wounds of the 51-year-old victim. However, the victim passed away soon after that.

An investigation was launched into the bloody murder. CCTV footage reportedly showed the attacker and the victim being in the casino’s parking garage at the same time. According to the Choctaw Nation, the two knew each other before the violent encounter.

Reportedly, a surveillance recording captured the two men having a dispute. It is unclear what caused the dispute between the two but at some point, the victim and the 20-year-old started pushing each other.

In a brief moment, the brawl between the two men escalated. This is when, according to surveillance, the young man allegedly used a screwdriver to attack the 51-year-old victim. As noted, the wound turned out to be fatal as the man succumbed to his death despite the attempts of the medical team to save his life.