Jeremy Lake, 19

Tulsa, Oklahoma
August 05, 2014

Agencies: Tulsa Police Department Oklahoma | Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) | Oklahoma City Police Department Oklahoma OCPD

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

Jeremy Lake, an unarmed black teenager, was walking home with his girlfriend, Lisa Kepler, when a black SUV pulled up and Lisa's dad, an Oklahoma City Police Officer named Shannon Kepler, got out shouting at her. Lisa Kepler and Jeremy Lake decided to go over to him, where Jeremy introduced himself as Lisa’s boyfriend. At this point, Officer Shannon Kepler pulled out his gun and shot and killed Jeremy and also shot at his own daughter, presumably angered over their interracial relationship. Kepler claims that he only kept shooting because he saw Lake reaching for a semi-automatic weapon.

Then Kepler just got in his car and left. He never called 911; nor did he wait for medical help.

No trace of a weapon was ever found at the scene.

Officers Shannon Kepler and his wife Gina Kepler, who is also a police officer and was driving the car, were charged with first-degree murder.

Legal Action

July 12, 2017 - There has been a third mistrial for the officer who shot Jeremy Lake. On Wednesday, October 19, 2017 a jury convicted a former Oklahoma police officer for fatally shooting Jeremy Lake. On Monday, November 27, 2017, Kepler was sentenced to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.