Reports Indicate Troubled Relationship Between Murder Victim, Arrested Suspect, Police Say

A reportedly abusive relationship turned deadly this week. Oklahoma City police are investigating the 88th murder of the year involving a couple.

Police said 50-year-old Richele Thomas was shot on Thursday inside her northwest Oklahoma City home.

Officers arrested the victim’s boyfriend, 50-year-old Lavelle Lewis, and booked him into the Oklahoma County Detention Center on one complaint of first-degree murder.

A recent police report indicated there was trouble in the relationship.

It was just before 4 p.m. Thursday when police said Lewis called 911 to report his girlfriend had been shot.

He directed officers to the victim's home near Memorial Road and Western Avenue.

“When they arrived, they found a female there that had been apparently shot to death,” said Master Sgt. Gary Knight, Oklahoma City Police Department. “She was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Lewis was there when police showed up and identified the victim as Thomas. Police taped off the home while investigators checked for evidence.

“It appears after looking at the scene, calling our crime scene investigators, investigating the suspect,” said Knight. “It appears there was an altercation which resulted in the male shooting the female.”

Investigators looked into the couple's history. They discovered Lewis was arrested in November after Thomas reported an assault.

She told police they had a fight inside an apartment near NW 50th and Portland Avenue when her boyfriend grabbed her legs and pulled her down the stairs causing a severe carpet burn.

She also reported another argument earlier that day inside a car that resulted in Lewis pushing her head into a window causing an injury.

Thomas told officers she was afraid of Lewis and her life would be in danger if she pressed charges.

Investigators are working to determine if previous fights led to the shooting death.

“The case is very new but it’s being worked on by detectives,” said Knight.

Lewis has a long history of felony crimes and served time in prison. He has not been formally charged by the Oklahoma County district attorney for the murder case.