OKC Man Arrested In Connection With Shooting Death Of Disabled Army Veteran

The family of a slain Army veteran are one step closer to justice after Oklahoma City police made an arrest in the homicide case.

Oklahoma City police arrested Reuben Ingram, 41, on Wednesday in connection with the death of 49-year-old Norman "Gabe" Pugh. 

The victim’s family spoke to News 9 the day after the suspect’s arrest.

“It was just wrong, it was senseless,” said Lori Cantrell, Pugh’s sister-in-law.

On April 25, police said Pugh was shot at his apartment complex near NW 18th and Youngs Boulevard. Investigators learned Ingram was beating on apartment doors looking for a woman and driving around the complex.

Police said security footage showed Pugh came home only moments before he was shot in the back in the breezeway. Pugh's family, who called him Gabe, did not think their loved one even knew the accused shooter.

“I know Gabe had never spoke of him,” said Cantrell. “I’ve never heard the name before.”

Cantrell has been mourning the loss of her brother-in-law, a disabled Army veteran who did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The war really messed him up and him coming back, we took care of him a lot,” said Cantrell. “It’s going to be really hard to imagine life without him.”

Cantrell said Pugh found friendship with fellow veterans at the apartment complex.

“I think he really like it there and enjoyed it because he had those people and they understood him,” said Cantrell.

When Pugh was not at his home, he was with his family.

“We will never see my brother-in-law again,” said Cantrell. “We will never have those barbeques or Sunday dinners.”

However, she can take comfort knowing a dangerous man was taken off the streets. 

“We can lay Gabe to rest knowing, knowing his murderer was arrested,” said Cantrell.

Court records showed Ingram has a long history of violent crimes. He is being held without bond at the Oklahoma County Detention Center on a first-degree murder complaint.

As of Thursday, Ingram has not been formally charged by the Oklahoma County district attorney.