Murder defendant denies planning fatal drug robbery

A murder defendant who took the witness stand Thursday told a jury he did not plan a drug robbery that claimed the life of a former county sheriff's son. Elijah Wilson also expressed remorse for running away after Jake McLain was shot.

Wilson admitted contacting McLain to buy $600 worth of marijuana but denied conspiring with codefendant Jonate Jefferson to rob McLain and a friend at gunpoint.

Wilson also denied discussing the buy with Jefferson in the apartment of a mutual friend, referring to the co-defendant as “not a person I would call a friend.”

The defendant said he walked up to McLain's car to discuss “a money issue I had” when Jefferson ran up with an assault rifle and demanded the drugs.

“As I'm pulling the door handle to try to get into the car I look up and the barrel of the AR-15 is to the left side of my face,” he testified. “And so I immediately put my hands up and froze.”

Wilson, 22, and Jefferson, 23, are charged with firstdegree murder in the March 15 shooting death of McLain outside the Liberty Station Apartments at 2700 N Lindsay. McLain, 19, of

Idabel, is the son of former McCurtain County Sheriff Scott McLain, who served in that role from 2014 to 2016.

Oklahoma County prosecutors allege Wilson and Jefferson were attempting to rob McLain and Seth Tisho of marijuana when McLain was killed.

Wilson's testimony was inconsistent and contradicted statements made to police and by Jefferson. Jefferson, the alleged shooter, testified Wednesday in exchange for a reduced sentence. He told jurors Wilson orchestrated the robbery and “nagged me like a fly” to participate.

Wilson admitted lying to a police investigator because “I was scared.” He said he took off running because he was “really scared” and trying to elude Jefferson.

Under Oklahoma law, a defendant can be charged with first-degree murder if a person's death results from the unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Prosecutors contend Wilson arranged to buy the drug from McLain, planned the robbery and talked Jefferson into participating. The public defenders representing Wilson said he “had no part” in the robbery.

The defense rested after Wilson's testimony and jurors were expected to begin their deliberations.