DUNCAN, Okla., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- The prosecutor of an Oklahoma murder case, called a thrill-killing in which a man was shot while jogging, said more gun laws would not have saved the victim.
"These kids were not supposed top have a .22-[caliber] revolver in the first place," Stephens County District Attorney Jason Hicks said of the two teenagers charged with first-degree murder and a third charged with accessory to murder.
The three are accused in the death of Christopher Lane, 22, an Australian citizen in Oklahoma on a college baseball scholarship. Charged with murder are James Edwards Jr., 15, and Chancey Luna, 16, and charged with being an accessory and with use of a vehicle in the discharge of a weapon is Michael Jones, 17. All three are from Duncan.
Prosecutors allege Luna fired the fatal shot as Jones drove.
Duncan Police Chief Danny Ford said Monday Jones claimed the shooting occurred because the three suspects were bored.
"All the evidence that we have suggests that they drove up next to him (Lane), pulled the trigger and took off. Very random," Hicks said.
"We've got statutes right now that prohibit those three from having a firearm. They're not legally entitled to have a .22-caliber revolver in the first place. You can give me another five, 10, 100, 1,000 laws. It's not going to stop them."
The crime has renewed debate over gun control in the United States and sparked outrage in Australia where gun laws are tougher, The Oklahoman reported Friday.
