Deadly SW OKC Apartment Shooting Suspect Arrested For Illegally Possessing Firearm

A fight between roommates on Thursday turned fatal at a southwest Oklahoma City apartment complex. Police said 20-year-old Matthew Harvey died from the shooting. Investigators arrested 48-year-old Ross Watkins on one complaint of illegally possessing a firearm, but not for murder. Police said the Oklahoma County District Attorney will determine if Watkins will be charged with murder.

Police said Watkins stayed after the shooting at the apartment he shared with Harvey and the victim’s girlfriend. Watkins told investigators a fight broke out between him and the victim Thursday morning. Maya Lopez was there with her young child.

“I’m in shock, I can’t stop shaking,” said Maya Lopez, the victim's girlfriend. “Every time I close my eyes, I just see him, and it just hurts really bad.”  

Lopez said she was in a bedroom when she heard the gunshot. Harvey collapsed on the stairs near the second-floor breezeway.

“I was just holding him, and he was just taking his last few breaths,” said Lopez. “I told him to wake up and it’s not time yet.”

Lopez said the fight stemmed from a conversation she had with the suspect earlier in the week. She wanted Watkins to move out of the apartment.

“I told his girlfriend he has 48 hours to get all his stuff out,” said Lopez.

Lopez said Watkins refused to move out.

Investigators noted in an arrest affidavit, due to the circumstances leading to the shooting Watkins was released pending further investigation. Police said they did not have enough evidence at the time to arrest Watkins for murder but did take him into custody on one complaint of possession of a firearm after a former conviction.

“Police think it was self-defense, but I don’t think it’s self-defense,” said Lopez. “I just want to get justice for Matthew because he didn’t deserve anything he went through that day.” 

Watkins’ felony drug conviction was out of Kansas where he spent 16 months in prison.