Reliable Discount Pharmacy store owner, pastors speak out in support

 
BY ROBERT MEDLEY and RON JACKSON | Published: May 29, 2009   

People have called, written notes and offered condolences and support since a southwest Oklahoma City pharmacist was charged Wednesday in connection with last week’s shooting death of a robbery suspect, the store owner said Thursday.

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BACKGROUND
Chickasha Police Chief Lynn Williams said his department has had limited contact with Jerome Ersland, including one time when he reported a drunken driver. Ersland reported harassing telephone calls to his home in 2002 and the vandalism of property in 2004.

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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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