Owasso Police Investigate Shooting Death

Owasso Police are investigating a shooting that left a man dead. The call first came in at 4:41 p.m. Sunday, according to Owasso Deputy Chief of Police Scott Chambless.

A homeowner who lives near 115th Street East and 110th Street North called police and told them he shot a man who was trying to get into his house.

The shooting victim has been identified as Edward Templeton, 38.

The homeowner says Templeton was trying to break down the front door, and police say there is evidence of forced entry.

Police were called out a few hours before the shooting in reference to a welfare check on Templeton's 5-year-old son inside the house, due to possible illegal drug use.

Deputy Chief Scott Chambless says officers found no signs of child endangerment, neglect or illegal drug activity, so they left.

Chambless said Templeton's son and wife were in the house when Templeton was shot and killed, but officers say the child did not witness his father's death.

"There was some type of visitation going on maybe some overnight stays, visiting on and off, but as far as the level of visitation, all of that has to come out in the investigation," he said.

Chambless said homeowners have the right to protect their home, but "It's not a blanket law that just gives people permission to do anything they want. That's the reason why these instances are investigated, to see if the homeowner used the correct amount of force to protect himself and his property."

Chambless said everyone is cooperating in the investigation and he hopes to forward the case to the Tulsa County District Attorney by the end of the week for an opinion on whether the homeowner should be criminally charged.

This is the first homicide in Owasso since 2005.