Man Found Guilty Of Murder Attacks Oklahoma County Prosecutor

Adrianna Iwasinski, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- One of the men convicted in the murder of 16-year-old Antwun Parker, who was killed during a 2009 robbery at Reliable Pharmacy, struck an Oklahoma County prosecutor in court Monday during the sentencing phase of the trial.

While District Attorney David Prater was talking to the jury, Emanuel Mitchell got up, lunged at Prater and hit him.

Deputies had to tackle Mitchell in the court room in front of the jury and hauled him off to a holding cell. Family members of Parker, who were in the courtroom, also had to be restrained.

"I just saw a fist coming out of the left corner of my eye and he nailed me in the side of the face," Prater said. "He hit me with my glasses on and struck me on the right side, cut my nose, cut my cheek, and when I pushed him over backwards into the rail, that's how this abrasion happened somehow."

The attack occurred after a jury found Mitchell and Anthony Morrison guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy in Parker's murder.

Prosecutors said Mitchell and Morrison convinced a then 14-year-old Jevontai Ingram and 16-year-old Antwun Parker to rob the Reliable Pharmacy in Oklahoma City, even providing the clothes, masks and gun to do it. The two were also in the getaway cars near the pharmacy and drove the teens to the pharmacy.

Parker was fatally shot during the robbery. Under state law, those who help plan a robbery where an accomplice dies can be prosecuted for murder.

The jury received more than 50 instructions in the case. The public defenders representing Mitchell and Morrison argued before the judge Monday morning, requesting specific instructions be given to the jury regarding each defendant. The jury deliberated less than two hours before reading the guilty verdict.

Mitchell and Morrison now face life with the possibility of parole for the first-degree murder charge.

Friends and family of both the defendants were in the courtroom, as was the mother of Antwun Parker.