Ex-Tulsa Police Officer To Face 4th Trial In Killing Of Daughter's Boyfriend

TULSA, OK — A white former Tulsa police officer is heading to trial for a fourth time to face criminal charges in the shooting death of his daughter's black boyfriend.

Prosecutors and Tulsa police "are in full agreement" that the case against Shannon Kepler should proceed with prosecution once again, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said in a statement Monday.

Kepler was charged with murder in the August 2014 fatal shooting of Jeremey Lake, 19, in Tulsa. Three mistrials have been declared so far.

Kepler told investigators he thought Lake was armed and acted in self-defense. No weapon was found at the scene. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Jurors deadlocked 6-6 in Kepler's most recent trial, held in July, after almost three hours of deliberations. Previous juries in the case deadlocked 11-1 and 10-2 in favor of guilt. District Judge Sharon Holmes declared mistrials after up to 12 hours of deliberations in each case.

Kepler's attorney, Richard O'Carroll, said he's never heard of a case being tried four times.

"It's a waste of valuable resources," O'Carroll.

Kepler, who retired from the force after he was charged, was a 24-year-police veteran who said he was trying to protect his daughter. She had run away from home and was living in a crime-ridden neighborhood, he said.

O'Carroll said Lisa Kepler had been in and out of a homeless shelter after her father barred her from bringing men into his house.

Photo credit: Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press