Black Faces Murder Charge for Fatally Shooting Young White Man During Drug Deal

James Smith

One white dealer, four black buyers.

You’ll never guess what happened when they met up.

KFOR:

A judge ruled this week that statements made by a teenage murder suspect in 2017 may be used in court.

James Smith, now 20, is one of four people charged in the shooting death of 20-year-old Nathaniel Ewing. Cody Eli Turbeville, then 17, Tyrek Ladrius Turner, then 20, and Armani Ashanti Morgan, then 19, were also charged.

Ewing had allegedly arranged to sell drugs to the suspects.

Smith, who was 17 at the time of the murder, allegedly told detectives he was the one who shot and Ewing.

From left: Cody Eli Turbeville, Armani Ashanti Morgan and Tyrek Ladarius Turner

According to the Norman Transcript, Smith’s attorney argued the statements Smith made were given “under duress and were not voluntary during a two-and-a-half-hour interrogation.”

However, on Monday, a judge ruled that Smith knowingly waived his Miranda rights before confessing.

Turbeville and Morgan pleaded guilty in the case and were sentenced to 10 years in prison and 10 years of probation.

Turner is still facing a first-degree murder charge.

Nathaniel Ewing