Friend: Iraq vet one of 3 shot in Oklahoma

[unhappycamper]

Friend: Iraq vet one of 3 shot in Oklahoma
By Rochelle Hines - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Feb 19, 2009 10:04:51 EST

OKLAHOMA CITY — Payne County prosecutors Wednesday filed three counts of first-degree murder and anticipate seeking the death penalty against a man who allegedly shot three people to death in Cushing.

The charges were read during an initial court appearance in Stillwater for Robert Chad Lansford-Barela, 20, who remained in custody without bond, District Attorney Rob Hudson said. An attorney for Barela will be appointed during a court hearing on Thursday.

Hudson said he couldn’t discuss a motive for the killings because the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is still looking into the case, but he did say a handgun recovered from a partially drained retention pond in Stillwater was identified as the murder weapon.

Hudson didn’t release the victims’ names, but an affidavit filed in the case listed them as Albert Cernas, 21; Elizabeth Hueser, 19, and Douglass Mason Peck, 27.

Cushing Police Chief Terry Brannon said a “significant witness” called police after finding the bodies.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_army_vet_shot_021909/%2e