Man sentenced to 25 years in jail for killing cousin at Bricktown hotel in 2021

Tarius Reed, 42, was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in jail for the 2021 shooting death of his cousin, Mario Vines, at a downtown Oklahoma City hotel.

Reed, who faced a charge of first- or second-degree murder, made the unexpected move to enter a blind guilty plea after a jury had been seated Monday morning.

A blind plea means there was no prior agreement reached between him and the state regarding a recommended sentence, which left his punishment up to the judge. The first-degree murder charge was dismissed, convicting Reed of second-degree murder. Oklahoma County District Judge Kathryn Savage sentenced him to 25 years on Tuesday.

The deadly shooting happened inside a Holiday Inn Express near Bricktown in the early hours of February 28, 2021. Prosecutors say Reed shot Vines during an argument after a night out celebrating Vines' birthday. The cousins, originally from Alabama, had been working in Oklahoma City for a week prior to the incident.

Court records show Reed sought immunity under Oklahoma’s Stand Your Ground law in 2024, claiming he acted in self-defense out of fear for his life, citing Vines' criminal history and an alleged physical altercation.

The record shows, “When asked what happened after being pushed onto the bed with Vines on top of him, Reed responded, “I reached in my pocket and got my – grabbed my gun, and it shot.” 

Reed also testified that at the moment, with Vines' hands around his neck, he thought his cousin would kill him.

However, Judge Savage rejected his motion, citing inconsistencies in Reed's testimony and his admission to drinking while carrying a firearm. Reed appealed the decision to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals (OCCA), citing insufficient evidence that he was under the influence at the time Reed defended himself.

The record states, “Reed’s unrefuted testimony was that he had three beers and a shot over the course of a six-hour night out,” and he was “defending himself in his temporary home.”

The OCCA reviewed and affirmed the lower court’s ruling. Reed maintains he acted in self-defense.