Connor Kinnamon
(PCSD file photo)
By Patti Weaver
STILLWATER — A 27-year-old Stillwater man accused of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend in the back of her head while she was holding their 5-year-old son on Easter morning has been ordered held without bond in the Payne County Jail pending a May 4 court appearance at which he can seek a preliminary hearing on a first-degree murder charge.
The defendant, Connor Allen Kinnamon, who lived with his son, his mother and her husband in rural Stillwater, fled out the back door in his mother’s car after shooting Audrey Adams, who had arrived from Tulsa the day before to visit her son, Payne County Sheriff’s Investigator Brandon Myers alleged in an affidavit.
Two hours after Kinnamon killed his ex-girlfriend on April 5, “the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office was able to stop Connor in a traffic stop, taking him into custody without incident,” on I-35 in Kansas at 4:56 am, the affidavit alleged. He was held in the Sumner County Jail until being transported to Payne County on April 9.
If convicted of first-degree murder with deliberate intent, Kinnamon could be sentenced to life in prison; if convicted of the alternative count of first-degree manslaughter while in a heat of passion, Kinnamon could be given a prison term ranging from four years to life, court records show.
Before the fatal shooting at about 2:46 am on Easter, “Connor and Audrey had been in a verbal altercation, to the point there was a small shoving match,” the affidavit alleged. His mother had separated them, the affidavit alleged.
The victim called her mother to come get her and her son, “which agitated Connor,” the affidavit alleged.
At the time of the shooting, “Connor was standing just inside the dining area facing the front door. Audrey had (her son) in her arms. (The defendant’s mother) was in the hallway facing Audrey, and (the victim’s mother) was standing in the living room next to Audrey, close to the front door.
“(The victim’s mother) reported that Audrey had told her that Connor had a gun in his pocket. (The victim’s mother) began telling Audrey to come with her when Connor said something to the effect of shooting himself. Connor then pulled the gun and shot Audrey, who immediately collapsed onto the floor of the living room.
“Connor fled the residence out the back door. (The victim’s mother) grabbed (the 5-year-old) and exited the residence through the front door. Connor then fled the area in a black Buick Regal belonging to (his mother),” who called 911, and (the victim’s mother) left the scene, the affidavit alleged.
“Emergency Medical Services responded and provided care for Audrey, but Audrey died, with the attending paramedic calling the death at 2:47 am,” the affidavit said.
“Audrey’s brother had driven (their mother) to the residence and was in their vehicle in the driveway when the shooting occurred. He briefly came into the house and then chased after Connor in their vehicle but was unable to catch up to him.
“Under exigent circumstances, with Connor’s threat of suicide, it was decided to ping his cellular device. Deputy Jacob Farmer was able to reach Connor on his cellular phone and began negotiating his surrender.
“Numerous pings indicated that Connor was northbound toward the Kansas state line, eventually crossing into Kansas. Deputy Farmer continued negotiations, with dispatch updating Kansas law enforcement with Connor’s cellular phone locations,” until he was arrested, the affidavit alleged.
A single fired 9mm casing was located in the living room in the area where the shooting occurred, the affidavit alleged. The medical examiner’s investigator was unable to locate an entrance or exit wound in her head from the gunshot, the affidavit alleged.
“The Sumner County Sheriff’s Office secured the Buick Regal and located the suspected firearm used in the shooting inside the vehicle,” the affidavit alleged.
According to the charge filed by First Assistant District Attorney Jose Villarreal, 14 witnesses have been listed for the prosecution including nine members of the Payne County Sheriff’s Office.
