Accused Oklahoma City shooter, 16, says he acted in self-defense, detective testifies in preliminary hearing

“He said he was defending himself from a large group of people closing in on him and his brother,” Oklahoma City police Detective Robbie Benavides said during a preliminary hearing for Avery Eugene Myers.

Myers, 16, is accused of shooting eight people in Bricktown the night of May 21. The victims were hit shortly after the Thunder advanced to the Western Conference finals by beating the Los Angeles Lakers.

One of the shooting victims, Norman Richards II, was critically injured and initially thought to be dead, Benavides said. Richards was released from the hospital June 22.

Prosecutors allege Myers did not act in self-defense because he retrieved a gun from his car and fired it into a group of unarmed people.

The homicide detective testified that Myers gave him three different versions of what happened that night, including two in which he said he fought with several men.

“I didn't feel like he was telling me the truth so I confronted him again,” Benavides said.

Myers said he went to his car to retrieve a gun after the first fight and “shot at just the crowd that was coming at him,” the detective testified.

When asked if Myers told him if any of the guys he fought with had weapons, Benavides said “no.”

Ben Brown, Myers' attorney, said his client acted in self-defense and “the defense of others.”

“There was a crowd coming toward him that was trying to do him harm,” Brown said after the proceeding.