A late-night confrontation outside an Oklahoma City sports bar ended with one man dead and another facing a first-degree murder charge after police say an argument over an interaction with a woman escalated into a fight and then gunfire.
KFOR Oklahoma’s News 4 reporter Paisley Porter reported that the confrontation happened near Sunni B’s Sports Bar and Grill in the 6100 block of North Santa Fe, where court documents say Myron Cooper became angry after seeing his wife interacting with another man, identified as Berry Russell Jr.
What followed, according to police records described by Porter, was not one continuous fight but a sequence of confrontations that included an initial fistfight, a period of separation, a gun being brought to Russell, and a second encounter in the parking lot that ended with Cooper being shot in the chest.
Police Say the Trouble Began Inside the Bar
Porter reported that Cooper’s wife was on Facebook Live when Russell approached her and began speaking close to her ear because of the loud music inside the bar.
Court documents described the interaction as flirtatious, although the footage itself apparently showed Russell leaning in to be heard.
Cooper saw the interaction and became angry, police said.
He then confronted Russell outside in the parking lot.
The argument quickly became physical, with both men throwing punches before other people eventually broke up the fight.
At that point, the situation had already become dangerous, but it still had an opportunity to end there.
Instead, according to Russell’s account to investigators, he went back inside the bar because he wanted to wait until Cooper had left the property.
Russell Says He Asked His Wife to Bring a Gun
While inside, Russell called his own wife and asked her to “come right,” language police interpreted as a request that she bring him a firearm.
Porter reported that Russell later told investigators he wanted the gun for self-defense in case Cooper confronted him again.
Police said he did not call law enforcement after the first fight.
That decision is likely to become an important part of how the case is viewed because Russell says he was trying to avoid another assault, yet he also chose to arm himself before returning to the parking lot.
His explanation, as reported by KFOR, was that he believed Cooper had already left and that he simply wanted protection if the situation resumed.
When Russell eventually thought the parking lot was clear, he walked toward his car.
According to his statement, Cooper then suddenly pulled up beside him.
A Second Confrontation Turns Deadly
Russell told police that he tried to run back toward the bar after Cooper reappeared.
He claimed Cooper chased him and began punching him repeatedly in the back of the head.
Russell said that was when he pulled the pistol from his pocket and fired.
The bullet struck Cooper in the chest.
The exact legal significance of those few seconds will likely be central to the case, because Russell is claiming he was being attacked when he used deadly force, while prosecutors have still charged him with first-degree murder.
Those two facts can exist at the same time at this stage: a suspect can make a self-defense claim while authorities pursue a homicide charge and allow the courts to decide whether that defense applies.
Cooper Drove Away After Being Shot
Sgt. Dillon Quirk of the Oklahoma City Police Department told KFOR that officers initially responded to a shooting call around 11:30 p.m.
After being shot, Cooper managed to get into his own vehicle and drive away from the scene.
Quirk said Cooper made several stops along the highway before eventually coming to rest near Southeast 15th Street and Interstate 35.
That is where officers made contact with him.
Cooper was transported to a local hospital but later died from his injuries.
Porter reported that he was pronounced dead at 6:48 a.m.
The fact that Cooper was able to leave the parking lot may have created some initial confusion about where the shooting occurred and where police ultimately found the victim, but investigators tied the incident back to the confrontation outside Sunni B’s.
Russell Called 911 and Surrendered
While Cooper was being taken to the hospital, Russell called 911 and told authorities that he had shot someone, according to the report.
When officers located him, police said Russell pulled over and surrendered voluntarily.
He also turned over the firearm.
That cooperation after the shooting may become part of the broader case record, but it does not by itself resolve the central legal question of whether the shooting was justified.
Police booked Russell into the Oklahoma County Jail on a first-degree murder charge.
The charge means prosecutors are treating the shooting as a criminal homicide at this stage, despite Russell’s account that he fired only after being chased and struck in the head.
He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Case May Turn on What Happened Between the Two Fights
The most important part of the case may not be the initial argument over Cooper’s wife, but what happened after the first fight ended.
According to Russell, he went inside specifically to avoid another confrontation.
He then obtained a firearm from his wife and waited before going back outside.
Police say Cooper later returned or remained nearby and confronted him again.
If Russell’s account is accurate, the question becomes whether he reasonably believed he faced an immediate threat of serious harm when he fired.
If prosecutors have evidence that challenges that version, the case could look very different.
That is why the allegation that the entire incident began over jealousy should not overshadow the much more important issue facing investigators and the court: whether the second confrontation legally amounted to self-defense or murder.
A Brief Interaction Ended With One Man Dead
Porter’s report shows how quickly a relatively ordinary social interaction inside a crowded bar became something far more serious.
A man spoke closely to another man’s wife in a loud room.
That led to anger, then a fistfight, then a separation, then a firearm entering the picture, and finally a fatal shooting.
Cooper died after reaching the highway, while Russell surrendered and was later jailed on a first-degree murder accusation.
For now, the accounts come largely from police records and Russell’s own statement to investigators, meaning some details may still be disputed as the case moves forward.
What is clear is that a confrontation that might have ended with bruises after the first fight instead escalated into a homicide investigation, leaving one family grieving and another man facing one of the most serious criminal charges possible.
Gary’s love for adventure and preparedness stems from his background as a former Army medic. Having served in remote locations around the world, he knows the importance of being ready for any situation, whether in the wilderness or urban environments. Gary’s practical medical expertise blends with his passion for outdoor survival, making him an expert in both emergency medical care and rugged, off-the-grid living. He writes to equip readers with the skills needed to stay safe and resilient in any scenario.
