Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Tulsa, OK: Accused killer captured in Gastonia to face murder charge

Staff reports
2011-03-01 19:33:40

A man captured in Gastonia in December was returned to Oklahoma to face a murder charge there.

Billy James Jones, 28, faces charges of first-degree arson, attempting to manufacture a controlled drug and felony murder in connection with the death of 32-year-old Shannon Lee.

Lee, who was Jones’ girlfriend, died several weeks after being injured in a Tulsa County, Okla., meth-lab fire in July. Jones also was injured in the fire.

Jones lived in Gaston County until moving to Oklahoma as a teenager, and his mother and other relatives still live here, according to Gastonia police.

Jones had been at a relative's house and police took him into custody while he was walking on Ransom Street near Airline Avenue on the way to a store, Gastonia police said.

Police in Tulsa initially did not have any witnesses to the events leading to the fire, but said they were eventually able to piece things together.

A murder warrant was issued Dec. 1 against Jones in Tulsa. He was booked into jail in Tulsa on Monday.

A felony murder charge can be filed when prosecutors believe that someone died as a result of a defendant’s felonious actions.

Jones has previous convictions of assault with intent to commit a felony, possession of a controlled substance and assault and battery on a police officer, according to Oklahoma Department of Corrections records.

Jarrel Wade of the Tulsa World contributed to this report.

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