A Sand Springs man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for the second degree murder of a woman found dead near a bus stop, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John D. Russell handed down the sentence to Anthony Clay Russell, 32, who will also serve five years of supervised release following his imprisonment.
Court documents state that on October 22, 2024, emergency responders arrived at the scene after receiving a call about a woman lying on a sidewalk with blood coming from her head. Medical personnel determined that the woman, identified as Tasha Shepard, had died from a gunshot wound to the back of her head.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage showing a BMW pulling into a nearby parking lot. The video showed Shepard exiting the passenger side of the vehicle and walking away, while the BMW followed her before speeding away from where she was later found by first responders.
Detectives found a cellphone on Shepard and discovered text messages between her and Russell from the night of the shooting. The messages indicated that Russell had arranged to pay Shepard for sex and discussed where he could pick her up.
During questioning by detectives, Russell initially denied being with Shepard but eventually admitted picking her up for sex in exchange for money. He said he did not have enough money to pay her, which led Shepard to leave the car. Russell then admitted to firing at Shepard, claiming he only intended to scare her.
Further investigation uncovered additional surveillance footage showing both individuals together in the BMW shortly before Shepard was killed. A search of Russell’s home led police to recover both the BMW and the firearm used in the shooting.
Russell is identified as a citizen of the Osage Nation and will remain in custody until his transfer to federal prison authorities.
The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam D. McConney and John Brasher prosecuted the case.
The prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative designed to reduce violent crime through coordinated efforts among law enforcement agencies and community organizations. The Department of Justice strengthened this strategy on May 26, 2021 by focusing on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting targeted enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes. More information about PSN can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psn.
