Former Tulsa Officer Testifies In His Defense In Federal Murder Trial

Closing arguments for former Tulsa police officer Shannon Kepler's murder trial are set for Monday.

On Friday, Kepler, who is accused of shooting and killing his daughter's friend in 2014, testified in his defense.

He's in court for a fifth time because of the Supreme Court ruling on tribal jurisdiction, but the first case in federal court.

Kepler told jurors this shooting was in self-defense because he said Jeremy Lake pointed a gun at him first.

He was serving a 15-year prison sentence for manslaughter, but the case was dropped because of the Supreme Court's ruling on tribal jurisdiction. 

Kepler is accused of shooting and killing his daughter's teenage friend, Jeremey Lake, in 2014.

The defense called in several witnesses who talked about Kepler’s good character, and Kepler himself took the stand.

He told jurors that he went to Jeremey Lake's home because he was worried about his daughter Lisa. Kepler said when he got there, Lake confronted him and then said Lake pulled out a gun first.

Kepler said he fired at Lake because he was defending himself. He told the jury he had no intent of harming him. 

Prosecutors brought up Kepler's illegal use of police records to look up Lake's address, and argued Kepler was possibly under the influence during the shooting.

The jury was sent home early Friday and closing arguments and deliberation are expected to start on Monday.