Man Sentenced To Life In Deadly 2017 Claremore Home Invasion

Marquise White has been sentenced to life without parole in the shooting death of 22-year-old Dakota Rex. Rex was murdered in Claremore on May 16, 2017, during a home invasion robbery.

Some college friends were together at a house when three men burst in to rob them, getting nothing but video games - but firing a shot on the way out.

It hit Dakota Rex in the chest and killed him. On Friday, his family saw Dakota's killer sent to prison for life without parole.

They got to tell the courtroom of their loss. They naturally described their anger, but also told the defendant more than once that he was forgiven.

Dakota Rex:

Police at the time said the men were looking for marijuana.

"The robbers came to steal marijuana and money associated with the trade, and Dakota Rex ended up losing his life when he got in a tussle with one of the suspects," said Claremore Police Deputy Chief Steve Cox in 2017.

Police said it was Marquise White who fired the single, fatal shot. They found the bullet on the floor inside the house.

He was the second man arrested, along with Dairon Brown and Kairee Javon Cooks. Cooks was sentenced to 15 years, and Brown faces sentencing in February.

All three are from Tulsa.

Police said White was also sentenced for robbery and assault and for an attack on a detention officer since he's been in jail.

Related Story: Claremore Police Arrest Third Suspect In Deadly Home Invasion 

"Our investigators have been working tirelessly," Cox said.

Police said the case started with a few, critical leads. Through interviews and tips, detectives got the name "KJ Cooks."

Police got cell phone records that confirmed Cooks was near the scene. Surveillance cameras picked up a car leaving the murder scene, and police determined Cooks had a matching car.

Police later got a recording of Cooks admitting he was in on the robbery.

They said once arrested, he identified the other two suspects, Brown and White.

Police said while the robbery was over drugs Rex was a completely innocent victim.

"Through everything we have learned, we believe he was trying to push them out the door to try and protect his friends, and he was shot and killed," Cox said.