Death penalty sought against Tulsa man in slayings of Muskogee brothers, three other shootings
By Samantha Vicent
Tulsa World
The Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office asked Wednesday for consideration of the death penalty against a man accused of killing two people and shooting three others in separate incidents in September.
In a bill of particulars, District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler alleged Ondriel Layson Smith should face the possibility of capital punishment because, among other grounds, one of the homicides occurred in an attempt to avoid or prevent being arrested.
The document also reveals Smith has nine prior felony convictions and that his actions created “a great risk of death” to more than one person, which means there is a probability he would continue to commit acts of violence “that would constitute a continuing threat to society.”
One of his previous convictions was for attempted robbery with a firearm, which can be used as an aggravator in a request for a death sentence.
“In a 33-day period, the defendant shot five persons ... killing two of them,” the bill states, adding that evidence shows Smith shot another person about four months prior to the fatal shootings. That case was dismissed "pending further investigation" but can still be used as an aggravating factor in requesting the death penalty.
Smith is next due in court April 9 before District Judge Dawn Moody.
Smith, 35, was charged in the unrelated shootings of three people before his arrest Sept. 17 on an outstanding warrant for shooting with intent to kill related to an incident on April 22. The arrest followed a traffic stop in which officers said they chose to make contact after determining his vehicle matched the description of one suspected in a string of burglaries.
On Sept. 25, Tulsa Police added two first-degree murder complaints against him in the double homicide of Keith Williams and Glynn Williams in the 5600 block of East Skelly Drive on Sept. 5.
Detectives have said they found a 9mm handgun in Smith’s vehicle on Sept. 17, and that cartridge casings matched those found at the site of the homicides as well as those recovered from a Sept. 11 double shooting at Incredible Pizza near 71st Street and Memorial Drive.
An arrest report indicates police learned Smith's ex-girlfriend purchased the 9mm handgun in March from a pawn shop. She told police she was with Smith when he killed Muskogee brothers Keith and Glynn Williams.
The bill of particulars states prosecutors believe Glynn Williams was killed because Smith wanted to avoid arrest or prosecution for having shot Keith Williams to death in front of him.
In a Jan. 31 preliminary hearing, the ex-girlfriend alleged she later got in a fight with Smith that resulted in him pointing a gun at her and eventually shooting her in the leg.
Special Judge Millie Otey allowed the state to add a count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon to the case against Smith apparently based on the ex-girlfriend's testimony, according to court minutes.
Smith, in an interview, denied involvement in the homicides but acknowledged having the firearm, according to the arrest report.
The reported victims in the shooting outside Incredible Pizza told police they received a text message from a man who owed one of them money and who asked them to meet. Smith is accused of firing at them when the male occupant exited his car to talk in the parking lot, injuring him and the woman. Both survived.
The man and woman told police Sept. 17 they found a photo of their assailant on Facebook, who they later learned was Smith.
Tulsa Police Homicide Sgt. Brandon Watkins said during the preliminary hearing that he initially had a separate investigation into the Incredible Pizza shooting because he believed it was unrelated to the deaths of Keith and Glynn Williams.
Smith is additionally charged with four counts of knowingly concealing stolen property and four drug-related offenses, as well as possession of paraphernalia and obstruction. The charges are related to what officers said they found in his vehicle during the Sept. 17 arrest.
https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/loca...17e0d58a0.html
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