Mr. Tucker at the prison chapel
Date: December 21, 2024
Place: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Laron Tucker, an inmate in Oklahoma, is seeking justice for the disparity in sentencing he and his co-defendant, William Proctor, received for their involvement in a deadly shooting. In 2016, Tucker was convicted of first-degree felony murder, even though he was intoxicated, passed out in a vehicle, and unaware of the planned robbery. Meanwhile, his co-defendant, Proctor, who admitted to participating in the robbery, received a significantly lesser sentence.
On the day of the incident, Tucker, a full-time welding student, had an argument with his girlfriend that led him to begin drinking and eventually pass out in the back seat of his SUV. The other individuals in the vehicle, including Proctor, planned and attempted to rob the victim, Kendall Austin. Tucker, completely unaware of the plan, awoke to the sound of gunshots and was shot in the groin as he tried to exit the vehicle. The situation quickly escalated into a shootout, resulting in Austin's death.
In December 2024, Proctor, who was already serving a 20-year sentence for manslaughter, had his charge reduced from first-degree murder to attempted robbery with a firearm. He was sentenced to just 10 years, served concurrently with his existing sentence. This reduction highlights a stark disparity when compared to Tucker's life sentence, despite Tucker's lesser involvement in the crime.
Tucker's supporters argue that he was less culpable in the incident than Proctor. Tucker was intoxicated and unconscious in the vehicle, had no knowledge of the robbery, and did not participate in the shooting. Proctor, on the other hand, admitted to his involvement in the robbery by pleading guilty to attempted robbery with a firearm. Critics assert that the current sentencing system in Oklahoma is unjust, particularly in cases like Tucker’s, where the individual’s level of involvement in the crime is not reflected in the punishment.
Jay Johnson, a key eyewitness, was certain that he shot Tucker, but Tucker was not the one who shot Kendall Austin. Despite this, Tucker received a life sentence for felony murder.
Advocates with Injustice Spotlight have pointed out, "It is irrefutable that Laron Tucker didn’t shoot or hurt anyone, had no knowledge of the robbery, yet he remains in prison with a life sentence." Many argue that Tucker's sentence is grossly disproportionate to his role in the crime.
This case also raises concerns about Oklahoma's felony murder statute, which allows individuals to be convicted of murder even if they did not directly commit the killing. In an interim study held in October 2024, Oklahoma state representative Justin Humphrey discussed the need for reform of this statute, emphasizing that individuals like Tucker should not be subjected to life sentences for crimes in which they did not directly participate.
Tucker, who maintains his innocence regarding the shooting, is hoping to secure legal representation to seek a commutation of his life sentence. His supporters believe that a fair review of his case could lead to a sentence more in line with the one his co-defendant, Proctor, received.