Police discuss investigation into Pryor’s first murder of the year after man shot dead in motel | News

PRYOR, Oklahoma – The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is investigating the first homicide of the year in Pryor after a man was shot and killed at a motel Sunday night.

Pryor police said the shooter, later identified as James Leroy Jackson, turned himself in and admitted he didn’t even know the man he killed.

According to an affidavit, Pryor police responded to a report of a shooting around 9:39 p.m. Sunday.

Pryor Police Chief Jeremy Cantrell said officers went to the normally quiet motel, the Econo Lodge Motel off Highway 69, and learned that a man, later identified as Aaron Gonzalez, had been shot.

Police said Gonzalez, who was from Mexico but was in town for work and staying at a friend’s motel, was shot once in the neck and once in the shoulder by Jackson, a man who did not even know him.

Pryor Police requested assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) at the scene.

OSBI agents were informed by first responders on the scene that a gray truck with a trailer body left the scene after the shooting, the affidavit states.

Police said Jackson sped off before they got there, but soon afterward he called police and asked them to turn himself in, without giving an explanation as to why he shot Gonzalez.

Calling 911 and saying, “I just shot somebody” is pretty bizarre, Cantrell said. “The whole case was bizarre in that regard. The way everyone worked with law enforcement to get the case quickly resolved for the victim was really the most important thing.”

At about 9:42 p.m., a Mayes County officer saw the gray truck matching the description drive away from the scene and conducted a traffic stop in the Chouteau area, the affidavit states.

The driver, Jackson, “made a statement” to the deputy that he had just shot someone, the affidavit states. Several firearms were found in the truck Jackson was driving.

Jackson was arrested and taken to the Pryor Police Department, where he agreed to answer questions, the affidavit states.

Witnesses and police said Jackson drove around the motel parking lot several times and there was a brief exchange of words between him and Gonzalez.

They said Gonzalez held his hands up and backed away when he was shot.

Gonzalez died on the way to the hospital.

Chief Cantrell said there was no explanation for this random, senseless act.

However, police discovered that Jackson had posted disturbing things on social media on the day of the shooting and appeared to be suffering from mental health issues.

According to the affidavit, he was also having marital problems and went to the motel to meet a friend.

“The suspect appears to have mental health issues and likely drug issues,” said Police Chief Cantrell. “Five firearms were found in the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect is a felon, he should not be in possession of firearms, and he had five that night.”

Pryor Police turned the case over to the OSBI.

Jackson is currently being held in the Mayes County Jail on charges of first-degree murder and possession of a weapon as a convicted felon.