Oguntope indicted for capital murder in Slaton shooting

LUBBOCK COUNTY, TX (KCBD) - Sampson Blake Oguntope, 21, was indicted on two capital murder charges Wednesday by a Lubbock County Grand Jury.

Lubbock County Assistant District Attorney Sunshine Stanek says Oguntope has been indicted on two counts. The first is capital murder with the aggravated sexual assault of Faye Gray, 89. The second is capital murder with burglary of habitation. The indictments stem from Gray's murder back in February.

It was a crime nobody expected to see happen in the quiet Slaton neighborhood of West Crosby Street. Lubbock County Sheriff Kelly Rowe says it was a very disturbing case.

"Suffice to say, it was a very heinous act," Rowe said.

Back on February 21st, police were called out to the home in the 1400 block of West Crosby, where they found Faye Gray, 89, dead from an apparent gunshot wound. Court documents say her caretaker, Megan Moore, 21, was also shot. Documents say she managed to make it out of the home and run to a neighbor for help.

Oguntope was arrested at his apartment several hours after the shooting. Court documents indicate authorities found blood in his home that may have been transferred from the scene. Rowe says investigators have more than enough evidence to link Oguntope to the crime.

"We do have conclusive DNA evidence as well as the murder weapon and where it was recovered," Rowe said.

A special Grand Jury handed down the two capital murder indictments Wednesday. Now, it's up to the District Attorney's office to decide which count they plan to pursue in court.  Stanek says it's a job her office takes very seriously.

"Our job is to seek justice, regardless of how the public feels, we are going to seek justice," Stanek said.

Stanek says a capital murder charge carries two options: life without parole or the death penalty. However, at this time, her office won't say which they plan to pursue in Oguntope's case.

Oguntope remains in the Lubbock County Detention Center with a $5.5 million dollar bond.

Gray's caretaker Megan Moore has been released from the hospital and her family has set up a fund to help pay for her medical expenses. Donations can be made at the First Capital Bank of Lubbock.

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