Reliable Discount Pharmacy store owner, pastors speak out in support

Douglas Sizemore, owner of Reliable Discount Pharmacy at 5900 S Pennsylvania Ave., said despite a first-degree murder charge against employee Jerome Ersland, the store is open and Ersland’s status as pharmacist has not changed.

Ersland’s actions during a robbery attempt left 16-year-old Antwun Parker dead.

"We’ve had tons of calls and letters from people who want to help, and we are taking all of that down,” Sizemore said.

Ersland, 57, was not at work Thursday because he was in the process of being released from the Oklahoma County jail.

Sizemore previously declined requests for interviews. But on Thursday, he decided to say a few words of support for Ersland.

"I don’t want to be so quiet, people think we are not supporting Jerome,” Sizemore said. "Jerome is an excellent employee. He is a good worker.”

Ersland shot and killed Parker after Parker and an armed, masked companion tried to rob the store. District Attorney David Prater filed a murder charge against Ersland, saying the Army veteran went beyond the scope of the law when he fired five shots into Parker’s abdomen.

A video surveillance recording shows Parker being shot in the head, but does not show Parker on the floor when Ersland unloaded what authorities said were the lethal shots. Ersland claims Parker was getting up and going for a gun.

Police found no gun at the scene.

Defense attorney Irven Box said he thinks a jury will rule in Ersland’s favor.

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