Argument turns deadly, two jailed

Local News

Discussion

August 18, 2010

By BOB GIBBINS Staff Writer The Tahlequah Daily Press Wed Aug 18, 2010, 09:54 AM CDT

TAHLEQUAH — Two men were jailed early Tuesday as an argument between friends turned deadly north of Tahlequah.

Kent Allen Johnson and Randelle Jay Sanders, both 30, were booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center in connection with the shooting death of Johnathan Hall. Johnson was booked on a first-degree manslaughter charge, and Sanders was booked for obstructing an officer.

Sheriff’s Capt. Bob Sanders said the men were at Johnson’s home on Jones Road north of Tahlequah when an argument started. Witnesses told investigators Johnson and Hall were arguing about narcotics. Johnson has told law enforcement he accidentally shot Hall.

Hall was shot once in the chest with a .22-caliber revolver. The firearm was recovered Tuesday afternoon when law enforcement officers served a search warrant on the residence.

Investigators said Johnson drove Hall to the Tahlequah City Hospital emergency room, where he died, according to reports.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Tom Moore was assigned to take the report, and he notified Sanders. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was later called to assist at the scene.

Johnson and Sanders are expected to appear before a judge today for an arraignment on their charges.

Randelle Sanders has a Cherokee County conviction for accessory to murder in the second degree for the December 2001 shooting death of Jackie Balthrop. He is on probation on that conviction until March 2019, Department of Corrections records show.

Johnson has previous drug convictions in Muskogee County and was also charged in Cherokee County in 2004 with possession of a firearm while on probation.

Text Only

Local News

Artistic wonders
Anthony Amason understands he sometimes has to push his students beyond their comfort zones so they’ll grow and become successful.

February 3, 2012 2 Photos
Matlock receives five years for rape
A former Tahlequah High School teacher and coach was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon after pleading guilty to rape.

February 3, 2012
Some enrollment up; some down
As public schools in Oklahoma suffer further budget cuts , student enrollment continues to increase.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
Deputy shoots, kills Norwood man
NORWOOD – A Cherokee County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a man Wednesday night after responding to a noise complaint near Norwood.

February 3, 2012
Plumb resigns as CNEC chairwoman
Cherokee Nation Election Commission Chairwoman Susan Plumb announced Thursday she would resign her position on the board, effective Tuesday, Feb. 14.

February 3, 2012
Bypass getting signals
After months of discussions between city and state officials, a Tahlequah intersection notorious for producing injury and fatality crashes is set to receive traffic lights.

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
Johnson seeks appeal of conviction
A Cherokee County man convicted last year of first-degree manslaughter is seeking an appeal.

February 2, 2012
Local opinion: Candidates deserve scrutiny
With the Republican nomination still up for grabs, campaigns of the remaining four men in the fray have called their competitors on the carpet about a number of issues – including releasing tax information, how much they give to charity, and sexual misconduct.

February 2, 2012
Area Tolkien fans eagerly await ‘The Hobbit’
A children’s fantasy novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, titled, “The Hobbit,” was published on Sept. 21, 1937. The book followed the journey of a pint-sized humanoid named Bilbo Baggins on his quest to snatch a treasure from Smaug the dragon.

February 2, 2012
Life enrichment
Whether it’s sports, dance, cooking or computers, lifelong learning programs enrich lives and can advance careers.

February 1, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Last year, Cherokee County was hit with severe snowstorms in the winter, followed by devastating floods in the spring. What have you done to protect your property, in case it happens again?

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Argument turns deadly, two jailed

Last year, Cherokee County was hit with severe snowstorms in the winter, followed by devastating floods in the spring. What have you done to protect your property, in case it happens again?

Site Map

Contact Us