The death of 19-year-old Gabriel Quadre Butler has officially been ruled a homicide after deputies found his body near a rural Banner Road grow operation in Cleveland County. The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner reported that Butler suffered four gunshot wounds to the left chest, left shoulder, and twice to the left upper arm. Butler had been reported missing by his family days earlier, and investigators say they are still trying to piece together how he ended up dead along that stretch of country road and why he was targeted.
Medical examiner's report lays out grim details
The medical examiner's report provides the clearest public account so far of how Butler died, listing the multiple gunshot wounds and the homicide ruling, according to KOKH. Those findings land as detectives continue to sort through forensic evidence and follow leads in the sparsely populated area.
Body found near Banner Road grow
Deputies say Butler's body was discovered around 12:25 p.m. on Feb. 24 in the 16200 block of Banner Road, close to where an illegal marijuana grow had been uncovered just days before, per The Norman Transcript. Investigators have called in partner agencies as they work to determine whether that grow operation has any connection at all to Butler's killing.
Nearby shooting under the microscope
The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office is also scrutinizing a separate shooting from Feb. 20 in the same Banner Road area that left one person injured, and officials say they are evaluating whether that case is linked to Butler's death, according to KOKH. So far, investigators have not publicly identified any suspects, and no charges have been filed.
Case still wide open
Local outlets report that Butler had been listed as missing for several days before deputies located his body, and that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has been asked to assist the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office with evidence collection, per KOCO. Authorities say they plan to release more information as the case progresses and are urging anyone with tips to contact the sheriff's office.
