Clinton J. Johnson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
A Tulsa man, Jamalo Keon Bruner, Jr., 25, was arrested following a federal indictment for First Degree Felony Murder in Indian Country. Bruner is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
The indictment, which was unsealed today, states that in October 2019, Bruner attempted to rob or burglarize an individual. During the incident, Benjamin Montgomery, age 22, was killed.
Authorities have been investigating the case since 2019. According to court records, two other individuals who are not Native American face state charges for first-degree felony murder related to Montgomery's death.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Tulsa Police Department. This collaboration follows the McGirt decision and is connected to Bruner’s tribal status.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric O. Johnston and Tyson McCoy are prosecuting the case.
"An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
