Federal Prosecutors Rest Case In Trial Of Former Tulsa Police Officer

Federal prosecutors have rested their case in the federal murder trial of former Tulsa Police officer Shannon Kepler.

This is Kepler’s fifth trial tied to the shooting death of his daughter’s friend, Jeremey Lake, in 2014. Kepler was released from prison in March because of the Supreme Court ruling on tribal jurisdiction.

Related Story: Daughter Testifies In Murder Trial Of Former Tulsa Police Officer

Another 12 witnesses were called to the stand Thursday in the third day of the federal trial. This was the first time Kepler’s attorney had the chance to call his witness.

The evidence and testimony Thursday was heavily focused on forensics.

Prosecutors called a witness to the stand who is an expert in forensics and she reconstructed the shooting scene. She concluded Lake was shot in the chest and neck and another bullet hit a backpack on the front porch of the house. 

 She also went over pictures from the crime scene and one of the major focuses was the lack of blood in the palm of Jeremey Lake’s right palm.

The witness’s opinion was Lake wasn’t holding anything, but Kepler’s attorney repeatedly asked if it was possible Lake could have been holding a gun or another object in that hand. She said it could be possible. 

A big topic the last three days has been whether Lake had a gun during the shooting because a gun was found in an interview room at Tulsa Police two days after the shooting. 

Forensic investigators testified there wasn’t enough DNA evidence on the gun to make a comparison to anyone.

Kepler’s attorney told the judge he will be able to finish up his case tomorrow then it will go to closing arguments. 

The trial will resume at 9 a.m. tomorrow.