A Comanche County jury delivered the final verdict in a 2024 Lawton murder case Friday, convicting Jaquis J. Lipscomb of first-degree murder and two other counts. Lipscomb, now 17, was 14 years old when 23-year-old Sir Daniel Smith was shot multiple times on June 4, 2024. Smith was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Jurors recommended 25 years on the murder count after four days of testimony, with additional time recommended on counts involving use of a vehicle in the discharge of a weapon and a gang-related offense.
Lipscomb was one of multiple defendants charged in the killing, and prosecutors described the case as connected to a gang conflict. Two other defendants, Dwaine Smith Jr. and Curtis Pelham Jr., have already pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial. The verdict closed out the final week of the Comanche County jury trial docket, and Lipscomb has requested a pre-sentencing investigation. Formal sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 27.
The district attorney said the jury held the defendant accountable despite his age at the time of the crime, and expressed hope that the victim’s family can now find closure. The case raises difficult questions about juvenile crime, gang activity in smaller cities, and how the justice system should handle teens who commit violent offenses.
Where do you think the line should be for charging juveniles as adults? Let us know in the comments.
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.