Hugo Teenager Found Not Guilty Of Manslaughter

A Pushmataha County jury has acquitted a Hugo teenager in the January 2015 shooting death of another teen.

Chase Covington was charged with manslaughter following the shooting.

1/30/2015 Related Story: OSBI: Teen Arrested On Murder Complaint In Antlers

On Friday, a jury returned a verdict of not guilty in the shooting death of Ronnie Long.

Covington's lawyer said witnesses testified at the trial that Long charged the truck in which Covington was the driver, opened the door, struck Covington repeatedly and attempted to pull him out of the moving vehicle in the moments before the fatal shot was fired.

“On behalf of Chase and his family, our condolences go out to the family of Wesley Long.  This was an unfortunate and tragic series of events,”  Covington’s attorney Kyle McCallum said.  

“While I believe Chase was clearly acting in self-defense, it doesn’t change the fact that a family has lost a son, brother and friend.”