Source: United States Department of Justice News
OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal jury recently convicted ROBERT LEE HARRISON, JR., 49, of Oklahoma City, of carjacking and other crimes, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On April 6, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Harrison. Count 1 charged Harrison with illegal possession of ammunition. Count 2 charged him with carjacking. Count 3 charged him with kidnapping. Count 4 charged him with use and discharge of a firearm during the carjacking.
The trial began on January 10, 2023, before United States District Judge Stephen P. Friot. At trial, Harrison’s ex-girlfriend testified that he forced her into her car at gunpoint as she left work at the Integris Baptist Medical Center parking garage in Oklahoma City. Harrison confined her in the car by repeatedly punching her before she was able to escape. Harrison again caught her in the elevator lobby of the parking garage, where he shot her approximately eight times before fleeing the scene. Harrison was arrested the following day after a brief foot chase with Oklahoma City police officers.
On January 11, 2023, the federal jury returned its verdict of guilty on all counts. The jury convicted Harrison of being a felon in possession of ammunition, kidnapping, carjacking, and using a firearm during the carjacking. For the ammunition count, the jury convicted Harrison of possessing the spent cartridge cases found at the parking garage after the shooting. Under federal law, a person convicted of a felony is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
A sentencing hearing will take place in approximately 90 days. At sentencing, Harrison faces up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. Count 4 carries a mandatory term of imprisonment of five years, to be served consecutive to any other term of imprisonment.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department, with assistance from the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Nichols, Jr. and Jacquelyn Hutzell, the case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. In October 2017, the Department announced the reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and directed U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop crime-reduction strategies that incorporate lessons federal law enforcement has learned since the program’s launch in 2001.
This case is also part of “Operation 922” and “Operation Shots Fired.” Operation 922 is the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. “Operation 922” prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. “Operation Shots Fired” targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to court filings for further information.