Tecumseh Police Officer Justin Terney, 22, a graduate of Canadian High School, was gunned down following a traffic stop in Pott awat om i e County on March 26, 2017.

Byron James Shepard, 43, the man convicted of the cold-blooded murder, had been on death row in McAlester State Penitentiary for more than five years when he died last week.

Authorities have not released the cause of death.

“We can confirm that death-row inmate Byron Shepard (ODOC #747199) was pronounced deceased early this morning, Tuesday, Jan. 14, at a local hospital. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General is investigating his death per normal procedure. As no physical injury or trauma was observed, the Medical Examiner’s office will determine the official cause of death,” The Oklahoma Department of Corrections said in a statement.

Shepard was convicted in Nov., 2019 of first degree murder with deliberate intent; knowingly concealing stolen property and possession of CDS.

He was given the death penalty, which he appealed.

In a decision by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals released on September 21, 2023, the court affirmed the murder conviction and sentencing; it reversed the concealing stolen property conviction and modified the possession of CDS verdict.

Shepard’s appeal of the murder conviction and death penalty was the first of what may have been many appeals afforded such convictions had he lived.

Consequently, at the time of his death no date had been set for his execution.

In its decision, the appellate court described the crime in detail.

Much of the scene, which took place at 11:30 p.m. in a rural area, was caught on Terney’s dashcam.

The video showed the traffic stop, the conversation between Terney and Shepard and Shepard fleeing on foot with the officer in pursuit.

An exchange of shots between the two was not seen on the video, but the gunshots and the voices could be heard in the background.

Terney was shot in the right thigh and lower abdomen.

Shepard was shot in the scrotum, chest, hand and arm.

Terney was found by backup officers lying on the ground with his head resting on a round hay bale in the middle of a large, open field. Shepard was found four feet away, screaming and moaning in pain.

Both men were transported to OU Medical Center for emergency treatment. Shepard survived, Terney did not.

McIntosh County paid its respects Terney, mourners lining Main Street as dozens of law enforcement officers from the county and around the state escorted the young policeman’s body to Hunn, Black & Merritt Funeral home for viewing.

Funeral services were held at Canadian High School.