Federal Jury Convicts Okmulgee Resident Of First Degree Murder

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Elijha Dewayne Taylor, age 34, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury at trial of one count of Murder in the First Degree in Indian Country, one count of Causing the Death of a Person in the Course of a Violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), and one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

The jury trial began with testimony on Monday, April 22, 2024, and concluded on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, with the guilty verdicts.

At trial, the government presented evidence that on March 4, 2023, Taylor approached a Muskogee apartment building, entered an apartment, then intentionally shot the victim with a .22 firearm before fleeing.  The victim later died at an area hospital.

The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The crimes occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.  The defendant will remain in custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Attorneys Richard Lorenz and Gregory Dean Burris represented the United States.