MCALESTER, Oklahoma – The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted Wednesday to recommend clemency for an inmate accused of fatally shooting a man during a 1992 robbery in Oklahoma City.
Emmanuel Littlejohn, 52, was convicted and sentenced to death by an Oklahoma County jury in 1994 for the shooting death of Kenneth Meers during a robbery of the Root-N-Scoot convenience store in south Oklahoma City June 19, 1992. Littlejohn was 20 years old at the time.
The Parole Board voted 3-2 to recommend clemency for Littlejohn after hearing arguments from the state Attorney General’s Office, attorneys for Littlejohn, and statements from the Meers family and Littlejohn himself.
Gov. Kevin Stitt, who has only granted clemency once since he has been in office, will have the final say in the case following the board’s recommendation.
Littlejohn maintains his accomplice to the robbery, Glenn Bethany, fired the shot that killed Meers. Bethany was also convicted of first-degree murder and robbery and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
According to the state’s clemency packet, Littlejohn was just released from prison for burglary, robbery and assault and was selling drugs with Bethany when the two men decided to rob a convenience store to help pay a debt owed their dealer.
Two witnesses said it was Littlejohn who had the gun, according to the clemency packet prepared by Littlejohn’s attorneys, with other witnesses saying it was the “taller man” who shot Meers.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said he was disappointed in the board’s decision.
“I am disappointed by the Pardon and Parole Board decision today but appreciate their thoughtful deliberation. I remain steadfast that the family of Kenny Meers has waited far too long for justice to be done,” Drummond said in a statement. “My office intends to make our case to the governor why there should not be clemency granted to this violent and manipulative killer.”
Drummond argued during the clemency hearing that Littlejohn was a “multi-time violent offender” who refused to accept responsibility for the death of Meers.
Attorneys for Littlejohn argued “circumstances of that and prior crimes were symptomatic of a juvenile undeveloped and brain damaged brain” and that he is currently not a risk to anyone, since he will serve the rest of his life in prison if clemency was recommended.
Bill Meers, the brother of Kenneth Meers, said during the hearing the family does not have any remorse for Littlejohn.
“I don’t have remorse, he doesn’t. I’ve got remorse about Kenny being killed but I don’t think this guy feels that way,” Bill Meers said. “We deserve our lives back and to have loving memories of Kenny and not carry the murder in our hearts forever. If that’s possible.”
Littlejohn during his time told the Meers family he was sorry for the pain he has caused them.
“I’m sorry. My acts caused y’all so much pain,” Littlejohn said. “I think about the horror of this each waking moment; it’s a constant nightmare that never leaves me.”
He said he accepts being a part of the robbery but maintained he did not fire the shot that killed Meers.
“I will admit to my part. I committed a robbery that had devastating consequences,” Littlejohn said. “But I repeat, I did not kill Mr. Meers.”
Pardon and Parole Board members Calvin Prince, Robert Reavis, and Ed Konieczny voted to recommend clemency, with Kevin Buchanan and Richard Miller voting against.
Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood, Littlejohn’s spiritual adviser, said he was surprised, but pleased, with the result.
“When I started this journey with Emmanuel Littlejohn, I couldn’t have dreamed a vote for clemency from the Pardon and Parole Board would even be possible,” Hood said in a statement. “My God! Look at what people of goodwill joined together in a common struggle can accomplish. Now, I pray that grace is contagious in Oklahoma. Gov. Stitt, there is no reason to kill Emmanuel Littlejohn.”
Littlejohn is scheduled to be executed on Sept. 26, at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.