Pharmacist to Stand Trial for First-Degree Murder

A pharmacist charged with shooting a 16-year-old boy to death during an attempted robbery will stand trial for first-degree murder.

Wednesday, November 4th 2009, 10:11 am

By: News 9


Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A pharmacist charged with shooting a 16-year-old boy to death during an attempted robbery will stand trial for first-degree murder.

A police detective testified Wednesday during a preliminary hearing for Jerome Ersland. The hearing determined Ersland will stand trial for the May 19 shooting death of Antwun Parker.

Detective David Jacobson said Ersland gave conflicting statements when he was first interviewed after the shooting.

Jacobson said Ersland's statements did not agree with surveillance video. He said Ersland claimed he was shot at, and that he shot Parker the last five times before running out of the store after a second robber and that both robbers were armed.

The video showed Ersland shooting Parker then chasing the second robber before returning to the store, getting a second gun and shooting Parker again.

Defense attorney Irven Box has said Ersland felt threatened when he fired the second volley and he was just protecting himself and the people who worked at the pharmacy. Defense attorneys said prosecutors failed to show enough evidence to make Ersland stand trial for murder but the judge disagrees.

Surveillance video of the incident was played several times during the preliminary hearing. An expert testified Parker was unconscious when Ersland fired the second round of shots which made him not a threat.

Prosecutors also said Ersland lied about his military background.

Ersland’s next court appearance is December 2. Judge Tammy Bass-LeSure granted a motion Thursday morning to allow cameras in the courtroom during the trial.

More on News9.com:

- Pharmacist to Stand Trial for First-Degree Murder
- Teen Pharmacy Robber Killed by Additional Shots
- Pharmacist Did Not Enter Plea During Arraignment
- Judge Upholds Subpoena of Pharmacist's Military Records
- Pharmacist Charged With Murder Returns to Work
- Pharmacist Defends Actions on National TV
- OCU Students Warned to Look for Robbery Suspect
- More Charges Filed in Pharmacy Shooting
- Judge's Life Threatened Over Pharmacy Case
- Second Pharmacy Robbery Suspect Arrested
- Pharmacist Released from Jail on Bail
- Pharmacist Charged With Murder After Shooting Robber
- Employee Shoots at Robbers: 1 Killed, 1 at Large
- Read the text of Oklahoma's Stand Your Ground Law

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