Oklahoma Murder-Suicide: Man Kills High School Friend, Shoots Himself At Home Following Argument

In a case of murder-suicide in Moore, Oklahoma, a man fatally shot his roommate before killing himself following an argument.

According to local reports, police received a call from 26-year-old Trey Mitcheltree’s parents last Wednesday (April 29) stating that their son was shot by his roommate, 27-year-old Austin Mansfield. When the officers arrived at a home near SW 34th Street in the 4200 block of Notting Hill Drive, they heard multiple gunshots coming from inside the residence. The officers entered the home and found two men lying unresponsive in a pool of blood. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Moore Police Department public information officer Jeremy Lewis said that they believe an argument ensured between the roommates in the living room following which Mansfield shot Mitcheltree several times in the chest. Mitcheltree, however, survived the wounds and started walking toward the back of the home. Mansfield shot his roommate one more time following which he succumbed to his injuries. Mansfield then turned the gun on himself.

Lewis said the neighbors told the officers that they heard them arguing and gunshots coming from the residence prior to their arrival. Investigation was ongoing to find out the motive behind the incident. Lewis said that initial investigation revealed that the two attended Moore High School and were friends.

“It appears that Austin got really mad at Trey, but we're not sure why at this time. We do know they had been friends since high school, and there was no reason to believe something like this would happen,” he said.

In a similar incident in Ross Township, Pennsylvania, a man fatally shot a coronavirus researcher before killing himself inside his car. The body of 37-year-old Bing Liu was found inside his apartment with gunshot wounds to his neck, torso and extremities. The body of another man was found in a car near the victim’s home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.

“The males are both known to each other. Investigative leads developed throughout the weekend have led us to believe that the male from the car shot and killed the man in the town home before returning to his car and taking his own life,” police said.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.