Two Tulsa Police Officers Facing Charges Related To Homicide

Two Tulsa police officers have been arrested following the shooting death of a 19-year old Tuesday night.

Tulsa police say the victim, Jeremy Lake, was gunned down in a neighborhood near downtown Tulsa by Officer Shannon Kepler.  It's not clear if Kepler was on or off-duty at the time.

Police say Kepler and Lake were in some kind of argument in the street prior to the shooting.   Kepler also attempted to shoot a woman who was with the victim, according to a news release from Tulsa Police. 

Kepler later turned himself in and is facing a charge for first degree murder.

Kepler's wife, Gina, was also arrested and is facing a charge of "Accessory to Murder After the Fact."   Gina Kepler is also a Tulsa police officer.
 
The following is a copy of the news release sent to News 9 early Wednesday morning. 

On 08/05/2014 at 11:16 pm Tulsa Police responded to 202 N Maybelle in reference to a shooting.  When first responders arrived they found a 19 year old man dead.  The man is identified as Jeremy Lake W/M DOB 06/01/1995.  He was walking with a female when the pair were confronted by the suspect driving a Black 2007 Suburban.  The suspect had words with the female and Lake.  The suspect shot Lake and the female fled.  The suspect shot at the female but missed.  The suspect fled east on Brady Street.

The suspect was identified as Shannon Kepler W/M DOB 05/20/1960.  Tulsa Police and the Agents with the Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force began to search for Kepler.  We were able to contact Gina Kepler W/F DOB 04/15/1966 by cell phone.  There was an agreement to turn Shannon Kepler over to Detectives.  

Shannon Kepler showed up at the Detective Division with an attorney.  We informed the attorney that Gina Kepler needed to be interviewed.  The attorney located Gina Kepler and she arrived at the Detective Division with the attorney.  

Enough evidence was developed to arrest Shannon Kepler for first degree murder and Gina Kepler for Accessory to murder after the fact.  Shannon and Gina are married.  Both are employed as police officers with the City of Tulsa.  

We are currently looking for the Black Suburban and the weapon used in the shooting.  Anyone with information on the location of these items please call Crime Stoppers at 918 596 2677 the Homicide Tip Line 918 798 8477 or email homicide@cityoftulsa.org   This is Tulsa 27th homicide in 2014