TULSA, Okla. - Two married,
veteran Tulsa police officers have been arrested in connection with the fatal
shooting of a 19-year-old man who was walking with their daughter, authorities
said.
Jeremy Lake was found shot to
death Tuesday night on a street near downtown, a Tulsa police spokeswoman said.
Shannon Kepler, 54, was
arrested on a complaint of first-degree murder and Gina Kepler, 48, was
arrested on a complaint of accessory to murder after the fact. Both were booked
in the Tulsa County jail Tuesday night.
Tulsa police say both suspects
have been with the department for 24 years, and were off duty when the shooting
occurred.
Jail records say that Lake and
the Keplers' daughter were confronted by a man driving a black 2007 Suburban
while they were walking.
Police told CBS affiliate KWTV
that the daughter approached the SUV when she recognized it as her father's
vehicle. Lake then reportedly came up to the car and told Kepler he was their
daughter's boyfriend.
"The suspect had words
with the female and Lake. The suspect shot Lake and the female fled,"
Roberson said in an email. "The suspect shot at the female but
missed."
According to jail records, Sgt.
Dave Walker said detectives called Kepler's wife, Gina, and she said she was
with her husband, but they were not at their home. After "an extended
period of time," Gina Kepler allegedly called back and said she and her
husband would surrender.
According to KWTV, she told
authorities she would put the weapon used in the shooting in the trunk of her
car. The Keplers later arrived at the detective division with an attorney, says
the station.
In a news release, Sgt. Walker
said "enough evidence was developed to arrest Shannon Kepler for first-degree
murder and Gina Kepler for accessory to murder after the fact." Police
arrested both Keplers.
The Keplers were both placed on
administrative leave from the police department.
Police are searching for the
gun and black Suburban.
