By Meghan McCormick
The Norman Transcript
Norman — Cleveland County prosecutors have filed charges against three people allegedly involved in a disturbance outside an Oklahoma City night spot early Saturday morning that resulted in gunfire exchange, according to court documents.
Oklahoma City police arrested Joel Christian Aranda, 19, David Franco, 17, and another teenager, all of Oklahoma City, on complaints related to the alleged disturbance, prosecutors said.
According to a probable cause affidavit, police were summoned to investigate a disturbance about 1:25 a.m. Saturday at the Sooner Corral Club, 10300 S. Sooner Road. The business is located in far southeast Oklahoma City within the northern boundary of Cleveland County.
As the result of an investigation prosecutors charged Aranda with use of vehicle in discharge of weapon and three counts of assault with deadly weapon, according to court papers.
Prosecutors also charged Franco as an adult with use of vehicle in discharge of weapon and assault and battery with deadly weapon, according to court records.
A Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department employee said Aranda was being held at the Cleveland County Detention Center Tuesday. A bond amount had not been set.
Because Franco is a juvenile, the employee could not confirm if Franco also was in custody at the jail.
The third teenager’s case has been assigned to juvenile court, and therefore authorities cannot release that person’s name or the charges that individual faces.
According to the affidavit, while police were investigating the incident, victims caught the teenager burglarizing their vehicle. The victims confronted the teenager which resulted in a fight.
Police said in the affidavit, that Franco and Aranda got out of their vehicle to help the teenager.
“Franco produced a black semi automatic hand gun and put it up to victim’s left side of his head,” the affidavit stated. “Victim… slapped the gun away and Franco again put the gun up to Victim…’s head.”
Franco hit the victim in the back of head with the hand gun causing a laceration, according to the affidavit. The victim pushed Franco which caused the gun to drop to the ground.
According to the affidavit, Franco retrieved the weapon and ran back to the suspect vehicle and stepped into it. Franco was identified as the suspect vehicle’s driver.
“As Franco sped away witnesses stated they saw Franco drive his vehicle at Sgt. Anderson,” the affidavit stated. “Witnesses identified Aranda as leaning out of the passenger side window and firing numerous gun shots as the suspect vehicle drove away.”
Police said one of the teenagers fired at officers and Sgt. Brad Anderson returned fire. Nobody was hit.
Anderson broadcasted a description of the suspect vehicle to other officers, according to the affidavit. Officers stopped the vehicle on I-240 close to the Bryant Street exit.
Court records did not indicate if appearances for Franco and Aranda have been scheduled.
Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com
