A black man who is a U.S. Veteran and father of four kids is set to go to trial for first-degree murder after he shot and killed a white man who was attempting to rob his marijuana business last year around the same time.
The man who was shot, 42-year-old Daniel Hardwick was attempting to burglarize 34-year-old LaRue Bratcher’s shop when Bratcher opened fire and killed Hardwick. Bratcher was reported to have misfired after only wanting to fire three warning shots to scare of Hardwick. It was Hardwicks’ second consecutive night trying to break in.
A quote from Master Sergent Gary Knight, he confirms what has been reported so far.
“He was trying to break in when the business owner, who was inside the business at the time, apparently opened fire with a handgun, striking and killing the man who was breaking in,” said Master sergeant Gary Knight
Bratcher called police after avoiding the burglary, however, officers contacted the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority and discovered that Bratcher’s license to operate has expired. As a result, Bratcher was placed under arrest and over $1.5 million in marijuana
Bratcher was originally charged for growing marijuana without a license and was released on a $5,000 bond, but listen to this the district attorneys upgrading him to second-degree murder, and later on in 2020, Bratcher was upped to first-degree murder. While out on bail, the police arrested Bratcher again while he was at home with his family.
LaRue’s wife Vicky shares her thoughts on how traumatic it was for the police to come in the house and arrest her husband like that.
“At that time, I had the baby who was six months old, and to have a gun pointed at her face, that was horrible,” said LaRue’s wife, Vicky Bratcher. “It’s just me with the kids and to know that you go from one charge to the next charge and not knowing what’s going to happen. It’s like our life is at suspense right now.
Bratcher’s family and others have come together and protested throughout downtown Oklahoma City and in front of the county jail that housed Bratcher. In addition, a petition for Bratcher’s release has received more than 1,600 signatures.
It’s been almost one year and Bratcher is still behind bars as he awaits trial.
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