23-year-old convicted of murder for shooting death of man at SE OKC bar

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — On Tuesday, an Oklahoma County jury convicted 23-year-old Johnathon Thomas of first-degree murder for the shooting death of 32-year-old Justin Smith in June 2023.

Oklahoma City Police responded to the shooting at the Aloha Bar in the early morning hours of June 12, 2023. When officers arrived at the bar in southeast Oklahoma City, they reportedly found Smith had been shot in the chest and attempted CPR.

However, their efforts were unsuccessful and Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives interviewed Thomas and another witness at the bar. Based on information gathered during the interviews, Thomas was arrested on a first-degree murder complaint.

After returning a guilty verdict against Thomas on Tuesday, the jury recommended a life sentence in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

Thomas is expected to be formally sentenced on March 20.