‘They’re Failing My Son’: Oklahoma Mother Asks For Justice In Son’s Death

An Oklahoma mother is pleading for justice after her son was killed. 

Michelle Key fears her son’s killer will be released from the Oklahoma County Detention Center with little penalty. Ross Watkins, a felon, has been charged with illegally owning a gun, rather than murder.

Watkins was arrested by Oklahoma City police in March after the deadly shooting of 20-year-old Matthew Harvey. The victim’s mother said police were warned Watkins was dangerous.

Key anxiously stood outside an Oklahoma County courtroom on Tuesday in tears.

“They’re failing my son right now,” said Michelle Key, the shooting victim’s mother.

Key was devastated when she learned the man who admitted to police he shot her son only faced one charge of felon in possession of a firearm. At the time, police did not have enough evidence to arrest Watkins for murder.

“He murdered my son,” said Key. “I mean he murdered my son. There needs to be more than that.”  

Key said her son and his girlfriend were trying to get Watkins to move out of the southwest Oklahoma City apartment they all shared when the situation turned violent. Police were called to the apartment the night before Harvey was killed. Watkins was allegedly threatening to kill him. 

“The police arrived, and they told them it was a civil matter,” said Key. “There wasn’t anything that could be done about it.”

Key said when her son was killed, he was not armed, and Watkins was barricaded in a bedroom with a shotgun.

“Ross opened the door, stuck a loaded shotgun up to my son’s heart and pulled the trigger,” said Key.  

She fears Watkins will commit more violence once he is released from jail.

“He told them he knew the system, he could beat the system,” said Key. “I don’t want to see him walking the streets. I want to see him serve his time.”

Key has an in-person meeting next Tuesday with the district attorney’s office.