Moore man sentenced in fatal 2016 burglary
A Moore man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in a 2016 burglary that led to his accomplice being fatally shot.
Christopher Harris Alexander, 27, pleaded guilty in January to firstdegree burglary. Last week, Oklahoma County District Judge Glenn Jones chose Alexander’s punishment.
Alexander will get credit for time already served in jail since his January 2016 arrest. The judge also ordered Alexander serve 13 years’ probation following his prison sentence.
Alexander and his accomplice, Bobby Lachez Perkins, 26, attempted to break into an apartment in south Oklahoma City on Jan. 25, 2016, according to prosecutors. After Perkins kicked in the door, the resident inside shot and killed him, police reported.
Alexander fled the area and later was arrested. Prosecutors initially charged Alexander with first-degree murder, alleging he was liable in the death due to his involvement in the burglary.
Prosecutors dismissed the murder charge when Alexander pleaded guilty to the burglary offense. Alexander admitted to aiding in the commission of the burglary by looking through the balcony window at the apartment to see if anyone was home, court records show.
The apartment’s resident, Jeffery Jamal Smith, told police he “feared for his life” and shot to protect himself after the door was kicked in.
Before the shooting, Smith said he heard a knock at the door, police reported. Smith looked out the peephole and recognized Alexander and Perkins. A few days earlier, Smith kicked Alexander out of his apartment for stealing, according to prosecutors. Smith had let Alexander stay at the apartment to “help him get back on his feet,” according to prosecutors.
Smith said he became scared, grabbed his gun and fired multiple shots after the door was kicked in, police reported. Perkins was struck by the gunfire and died at the apartment complex.