Preparedness
Oklahoma Judge on Trial: Two Drive-bys Linked by Lone Glock
A judicial official in Oklahoma finds himself on the flip side of the law, as he has been indicted for involvement in two separate drive-by shootings that took place in 2023, one of which took place on a property belonging to his brother-in-law.
Close to 3:30 in the afternoon on the 12th of February, 2023, a vehicle approached a ranch in Bison, Oklahoma, approximately 75 miles north of Oklahoma City, and discharged several shots. The property’s owner, Kenneth Markes, has stated that bullets pierced his residence, causing damage to a window, a wall, and his oven. A solitary bullet alongside five empty .40-caliber shell casings was later found at the scene. Although Markes’ son was present at the time, thankfully, no one was harmed.
Markes expressed his disbelief by saying, “Seeing a person in a window, and missing by a matter of inches, is not just a random shooting.”
Notably, two days after this event, Markes’ brother-in-law, Brian Lovell — a 59-year-old associate judge in Garfield County, Oklahoma — reported that a firearm had been stolen from his vehicle.
As the year progressed to September 11th, a man was seen in a white SUV near the crossroads of Matamoros and Santa Maria in Austin, Texas, allegedly pointing a weapon and firing at other vehicles. A witness described the suspect as “a white male, wearing a baseball-style hat and grey shirt.”
The suspect reportedly fired a minimum of five shots, with police finding “several vehicles with projectile defect in them,” according to the affidavit. Three .40-caliber shell casings were later discovered at the scene.
Interestingly, about an hour later, Judge Brian Lovell was arrested less than two miles from the intersection where the shooting occurred, after his white SUV with Oklahoma plates allegedly hit another vehicle twice.
The affidavit stated, “This SUV was driven by a white male, wearing a baseball-style hat and a grey shirt who was identified as Brian Noel Lovell … by his Oklahoma Driver’s License.” Police also spotted “a black firearm in the front passenger floor board of Lovell’s SUV.”
Lovell confirmed that he had hit the woman’s vehicle twice but denied doing so intentionally. When questioned about the shooting earlier that day, he seemed to draw a blank. “Lovell advised he did not know why he would have shot his gun and he could not recall any part of the shooting incident,” the affidavit said.
Fortunately, no one was hurt in either the Austin shooting or the minor vehicle accident.
In November, two months after the Austin shooting and nine months after Markes’ ranch shooting, ballistic tests revealed both incidents involved the same weapon, a Glock 23 .40-caliber.
Fast forward to February 2024, Lovell found himself under arrest and facing eight felony counts of deadly conduct — discharge of a firearm relating to the Austin shooting. He was granted a $10,000 bond and released upon payment. His hearing for this case is set for June.
Recently, Lovell was arraigned on one felony count of use of a vehicle to facilitate the discharge of a firearm and an alternative felony count of discharging a firearm into a dwelling in relation to the shooting at Markes’ residence. As Lovell did not enter a plea, the court entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. He was given a $25,000 bond and released under the condition that he avoids Markes and his family and all firearms.
Stephen Jones, Lovell’s defense attorney in Oklahoma, questions the indictment. “It was a long time before the indictment was returned and that bears on him and his family. But he’s a strong character,” Jones stated. “And in my view, he’s innocent.”
Jones further conveyed the defense’s intention to “attack the jurisdiction and soundness of the indictment.” “From our own investigation, the evidence is insufficient to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt,” Jones argued.
Meanwhile, Markes displayed less confidence in his brother-in-law’s innocence. “I had no idea that it could’ve been Brian Lovell,” Markes shared. He reiterated his earlier sentiment: “Seeing a person in a window, and missing by a matter of inches, is not just a random shooting.”
Lovell’s court hearing concerning the shooting at Markes’ ranch is scheduled for late August. Garfield County District Judge Paul Woodward previously stated that Lovell had agreed not to preside over cases until his own case is fully resolved.
Watch a local news report about the incident below:
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A recent road rage incident in Illinois escalated to gunfire when a concealed-carrying motorist felt threatened by an approaching individual. The confrontation unfolded at the intersection of Busey Avenue and Park Street in Urbana, drawing a swift response from local police.
The altercation began as a verbal dispute between a man driving alone and a couple in another vehicle. Tensions rose when the solo driver attempted to distance himself from the pursuing pair by pulling into a hospital emergency room parking lot before exiting onto Park Street.
As the situation intensified, the couple continued their pursuit, stopping their car at Park Street. The female driver armed herself with a baseball bat, while her male passenger approached the lone motorist.
The solo driver, who held a concealed-carry permit, reported that the approaching male appeared to have his hand under his shirt, suggesting he might be armed. In response, the driver drew his legally concealed firearm and fired multiple shots, striking the male passenger.
Following the shooting, the driver promptly called 911 to report the incident. The injured male was transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery and was placed in intensive care.
Authorities are actively investigating the incident, and no arrests have been made at this time. The police encourage anyone with information to come forward, offering options for private discussions or anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers.
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In Jacksonville, Florida, a mother took matters into her own hands to confront an 18-year-old man who was allegedly engaging in inappropriate text exchanges with her 13-year-old daughter. The confrontation, which took place at a local Popeyes restaurant, escalated dramatically and ended with the suspect being shot.
According to Jacksonville Sheriff’s Chief of Investigations Alan Parker, the suspect, Cerry Rodriques Banks, had been involved in “an inappropriate text relationship with a 13-year-old female.” Upon discovering these communications, the girl’s mother decided to intervene directly. She assumed her daughter’s identity by using her phone to communicate with Banks, setting up a meeting with him at the restaurant early on a Sunday morning.
When Banks arrived, he was expecting to meet the young girl but was instead confronted by the mother, her daughter, and her 11-year-old son. During the encounter, Banks allegedly pulled out a gun and ominously warned the mother, “When you hear the shots tonight, you know what’s up.”
The mother quickly ushered her children into the safety of the Popeyes and alerted the authorities. Despite having the opportunity to leave the scene, Banks remained outside the restaurant. When police officers arrived, they instructed Banks to “turn around and show his hands,” but he ignored the commands and attempted to flee.
“As the officer reaches the corner of the business, he observes the suspect pull the pistol from his waistband,” Parker explained. The officer, who has seven years of experience, ordered Banks to drop the weapon. When Banks did not comply, the officer fired, hitting Banks multiple times.
“The suspect continues to flee and, near a neighboring business, drops the gun,” Parker added. Banks managed to escape temporarily but was later captured in a drainage tunnel with the help of a K-9 unit. He sustained injuries to his hand, torso, and possibly his leg, and was provided medical care before being transported to a hospital.
Authorities recovered the firearm, which had not been discharged during the incident. Banks now faces several charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, lewd and lascivious conduct, unlawful use of a communication device, and traveling to meet a minor for illicit purposes.
Jacksonville Sheriff T. K. Waters acknowledged the mother’s concern for her daughter but emphasized that such situations should be handled by law enforcement. “We’d absolutely love to handle every situation, but this is a mother who’s concerned about her daughter. So, I get it, I understand,” Waters stated. “But, I would say that in most cases, in situations like that, call us and let us come out and deal with the situation, so it doesn’t unfold like this.”
Watch a local news report about the incident below:
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A concealed-carry motorcyclist was involved in a fatal incident in Maryland last week, which police have described as a road-rage confrontation. The motorcyclist, a 22-year-old with a valid Maryland concealed handgun carry permit, was traveling near Maryland Route 10 and Furnace Branch Road when he encountered an aggressive driver.
According to reports, the motorcyclist noticed another vehicle tailgating him and behaving erratically. The situation escalated when the driver, identified as 51-year-old Scott David Guhse, pulled alongside the motorcyclist, shouting at him. The two nearly collided during the encounter.
Anne Arundel County police spokesman Justin Mulcahy explained, “At a certain point, he was sort of forced off the road, and then stopped. He ultimately had to lay down his bike.” The confrontation reached a critical point when both individuals stopped on East Furnace Branch Road at Margate Drive.
It was there that Guhse allegedly charged at the motorcyclist with a hammer. In response, the motorcyclist drew his handgun and fired, resulting in Guhse’s death at the scene, according to fire officials. The motorcyclist remained at the scene following the incident, cooperating with authorities.
“I heard a pop. I thought it sounded like gunfire,” Hyung Chang, owner of Against Our Odds Vape Shop in Glen Burnie, recounted. “Ten to 15 minutes later, started having police and everything show up.”
Chang remarked on the frequency of such incidents in the area, noting, “It’s unfortunate,” and adding that he witnesses similar altercations at least once a month. “People have to learn to tone things down a little bit and not take things so personal,” he advised.
Watch a local news report about the incident below:
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Donna
May 23, 2024 at 5:28 pm
Nothing should be done about gun laws other than making it easy for non-criminals to own guns