A federal judge sentenced Jamalo Bruner Jr. to 50 years in prison for his role in the 2019 killing of 22-year-old Ben Montgomery. Montgomery was shot inside his Tulsa apartment while celebrating a birthday with friends. Investigators said he was caught up in a robbery after the suspects entered the wrong apartment.
According to News On 6, investigators said Jerrell Jones planned to rob a drug dealer, and Bruner and Devyn Smith went to carry out the robbery. The suspects forced the dealer upstairs at gunpoint, but Bruner and another suspect entered the wrong apartment. Montgomery had no connection to the planned drug deal, the station reported.
News On 6 reported that Montgomery tackled one of the suspects before being shot and killed. The outlet said a Tulsa police homicide detective eventually solved the case, leading to arrests of Bruner, Smith and Jones after an investigation that lasted several years.
A Father's Grief, Years in the Making
Montgomery was the son of Tom Montgomery, a retired Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper. In an account reported by News On 6, his father described him as selfless and said the killing had left the family with enduring grief.
Nine people gave victim impact statements at Bruner’s sentencing hearing, where they remembered Montgomery as a hero, according to News On 6.
Sentencing Fell Short of Life, Above the Defense's Ask
Prosecutors sought a life sentence, while Bruner’s attorneys asked for 40 years. The judge imposed a 50-year sentence. Bruner told the court he wanted to take responsibility for his actions and said sorry isn't a big enough word for what he did.
U.S. Attorney Christopher Nassar said Benjamin Montgomery died protecting his friends during an armed robbery and that the sentence may provide the family some closure. Nassar also thanked Tulsa police homicide detectives and FBI agents for their work, according to News On 6.
Two Co-Defendants Still Await Trial
Smith and Jones are charged with murder in Tulsa County court, and their cases remain ongoing. News On 6 reported that the case had been unsolved for roughly six years before investigators arrested Jones in July 2025, after a witness came forward with new information.
Smith was formally charged with first-degree felony murder on Jan. 16, 2026, according to News On 6. No further update on the status of either co-defendant's case has been reported beyond that point.
Tulsa’s Homicide Solve Rates
Citywide figures offer context but do not describe the Montgomery case: Tulsa police told KTUL that all 50 homicides recorded in 2024 were solved. For 2025, KTUL reported that Tulsa recorded 47 homicides and had a 94% solve rate.
