Oklahoma City Pharmacist Makes National News

NewsOn6.com

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -- Was it murder or self defense? An Oklahoma City pharmacist is making his case to the nation.

Jerome Ersland is charged with 1st degree murder after he shot a young man trying to rob his store in May.

Monday, Ersland appeared on a national cable news channel to defend himself.

The 57-year-old pharmacist told the news show he feared for his life, so he started shooting.

The Oklahoma County DA's office says Jerome Ersland went too far.

Oklahoma County DA David Prater says Ersland shot an unarmed, unconscious robber five times in the stomach after shooting him in the head.

5/28/2009 Related story: OKC Pharmacist Who Shot Robber Released

That robbery suspect was 16-year-old Antwun Parker.

Prosecutors also claim Ersland was the only one who fired shots, but Ersland says that's not true.

Ersland's attorney says that a drugstore surveillance video indicates the entire incident lasted 46 seconds.