Ersland Found Guilty Of Murder

Adrianna Iwasinski, News9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The jury has found pharmacist Jerome Ersland guilty of first degree murder in the shooting death of 16-year-old Antwun Parker during a botched robbery at the Reliable Pharmacy in 2009.

Ersland faces life in prison without parole.

All evidence has been presented in the case and both the prosecution and defense have presented its closing arguments.

The prosecution said Ersland "made himself judge, jury and executioner when he shot 16-year-old Antwun Parker while lying unconscious and unarmed at the Reliable Pharmacy."

The prosecution also said had it not been for the surveillance tape, everyone would have believed Ersland was a hero based on his police interview but that he underestimated what the police investigation would reveal.

Ersland's lead attorney Irven Box handled the closing arguments for the defense. He told the jury they had a very hard job ahead of them. He told the jury to think about all of the people in the pharmacy that day and who testified and for them to determine what the truth really is. He went on to say the state only presented part of the truth.

In a compelling move, Box asked the jury to close their eyes and put themselves in that pharmacy that day and think about what they would do. Box admits Ersland has said a lot of goofy things but to judge his actions not the person.

In close, District Attorney David Prater presented his case for the state. He told the jury Ersland lies about everything including his self defense claims.