Tulsa, Oklahoma

From Amarillo’s (TX) KFDA.com of September 22, 2007

Tulsan acquitted in brother's shooting death

A Tulsan who claimed he was acting in self defense when he shot his younger brother to death has been acquitted of a murder charge.

Jurors deliberated for seven hours yesterday before finding 27-year-old Benjamin Smith not guilty in the March 2006 shooting death of 22-year-old Samsun Smith.

Defense attorney Allen Smallwood successfully argued that Benjamin Smith acted in self-defense when he shot his brother in the chest during an altercation.

The altercation, which took place at a family residence in west Tulsa, escalated when Benjamin Smith aimed a rifle at Samsun Smith. Immediately before he was shot, Samsun Smith threw a pillow at his brother and took a step backward.