Jury gives life without parole for murder
A jury found an Oklahoma City man guilty of shooting a victim more than a dozen times. Darris Antonio Brooks, 34, was convicted Monday of firstdegree murder and felon in possession of a firearm. The jury chose a life sentence without the possibility of parole for murder and 45 years in prison for possessing a firearm. Brooks was charged with killing Noah Ruff, 33, on Sept. 23, 2017, in front of a house in the 2000 block of NE 26. Prosecutors said Ruff was shot 13 to 15 times. A witness told police the shooting was over a drug debt, according to a court affidavit. The shooter stood over Ruff, who was pleading for his life, and said “I have to do you,” witnesses reported. Video footage near the scene depicted the shooter wearing a red shirt, black shorts and Air Jordan shoes. Security camera footage at a nearby store showed Brooks wearing the same outfit as the suspect at the scene. Prosecutors presented phone records that indicated Brooks told Ruff to come to the house before heading toward the area. Defense attorney Joi Miskel argued Brooks wasn't the shooter because video footage showed a suspect with no tattoos on his legs. Brooks has large tattoos on the back of both his legs. “What it boils down to is, if you don't see a tattoo on the man's leg in the picture, then Mr. Brooks is not guilty,” she told the jury. Prosecutors said a tattoo was visible in the footage. The jury returned after two hours of deliberation with a guilty verdict. Oklahoma County District Judge Amy Palumbo will sentence Brooks at a hearing April 3. He has pending charges of assault and battery on a police officer, possession of contraband in a penal institution and conspiracy to commit a felony, among others.