A 40-year-old man is behind bars after an early Monday altercation on the northwest side of Oklahoma City left a 57-year-old man dead, according to police.
Officers were called to the 1330 block of NW 105th Terrace around 2 a.m., where they found the victim, identified as 57-year-old Quinto Ackerman, unresponsive. The suspect, 40-year-old Christopher Smith, was taken into custody on a complaint of second-degree murder, police said.
As reported by KFOR, officers rushed Ackerman to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Detectives with the Oklahoma City Police Department’s homicide unit processed the scene and interviewed witnesses as part of what police describe as an active investigation. So far, investigators have not released a possible motive or any additional details about what led up to the confrontation.
What second-degree murder means in Oklahoma
Under Oklahoma law, murder in the second degree is a serious felony that can carry a sentence ranging from 10 years to life in prison, depending on the subsection and the facts of the case. The elements, penalties, and distinctions from first-degree murder are laid out in Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Prosecutors rely on those statutes when deciding how to formally charge and pursue a case.
Investigation and next steps
Police say the homicide unit is continuing to investigate and are asking anyone with information to contact the department. Once detectives wrap up their work, the case will be sent to the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office for review and a decision on formal charges. For the initial reporting and the early details provided by police, see KFOR.
The Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office reviews cases forwarded by law enforcement and determines whether to file criminal charges. If prosecutors decide to move ahead, the case will be set for court and a judge will determine bond and schedule upcoming hearings.
