{{abandoned|September 13, 2013}}
{{tasks|news|re-review}}
{{date|August 19, 2013}}
Australian baseballer Chris Lane has been shot dead in the state of Oklahoma by three teenagers last Friday.
What is being described as a “killing spree” and a “random act of violence” by Danny Ford, the chief of Oklahama’s Duncan Police Department, Luke was simply enjoying an afternoon jog before being shot dead.
The teenagers responsible for Lane’s death have now been identified as fifteen year-old James Edwards, sixteen year-old Chancey Luna and seventeen year-old Michael Jones.
After picking him out as a target, the boys drove behind him and shot him in the back with a small calibre weapon. They then sped off leaving the scene and soon after drove to another house, murdering a second unrelated victim.
Witnesses saw Lane stumble to a near bay drainage area, drop to his knees and then collapse. A woman stopped to perform CPR whilst another called 911.
Despite the quick response of paramedics and police at the scene, Lane was pronounced dead an hour later.
District attorney Jason Hicks made the following statements at a hearing on Tuesday about Edwards’ stating, “He was treating it as a joke…he is a threat towards the community.”
Edwards’ and Luna were both refused bail whilst Jones’ was set at a $US1 million. The teenagers will be tried as adults and are expected to serve “very, very lengthy prison sentence” stated Hicks’.
Prosecutors believe it was Luna who pulled the trigger on Lane whilst jogging, but Jennifer Luna refuses to believe the events that have taken place pleading her son was at home and “is a good kid.”
Whereas Jones is likely to be charged with using a vehicle to facilitate the discharge of a weapon and accessory after the fact of murder in the first degree.
On one of the alleged killer’s Facebook page, a message was found reading, “Bang. Two drops in two hours.”
Lane who was on scholarship program, has been described as “a truly talented and highly respected young man.” Both his friends and family in Duncan and Melbourne have been left in a state of outrage and shock.
A court-date has yet to be confirmed, but the three alleged killers are likely to be charged with first-degree murder and could potentially face the death penalty.
Category:Australia Category:Oceania Category:Oklahoma Category:United States Category:North America Category:Crime and law