MIDWEST CITY, OK – A jury has convicted a 32-year-old Oklahoma man of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a college student he believed was romantically involved with his wife, despite her insistence that the two were only friends.
Brandon Morrissette was found guilty Thursday in the killing of Robenie “RJ” Long, 20, during a confrontation last year on the campus of Rose State College. Prosecutors say Morrissette, overcome by suspicion, approached Long as he exited a campus building alongside Morrissette’s wife, a fellow student, and opened fire.
According to police, Morrissette had grown convinced that Long was engaged in an affair with his wife, a claim she strongly denied in statements to investigators, maintaining that Long was simply a friend and classmate. The shooting, which took place outside the college’s Humanities building in Midwest City, resulted in Long’s death at the scene. Morrissette was arrested immediately afterward.
During the trial, jurors heard evidence that Morrissette fired seven shots at Long, actions that underscored the gravity of the offense in the eyes of the court. The trial, which began on Monday, moved swiftly, with the jury returning a guilty verdict following only a few hours of deliberation on Thursday.
The community mourned the loss of Long, who had served in the U.S. Marines following his 2021 high school graduation. Friends and relatives remembered him as a selfless individual known for putting others before himself. At his memorial, speakers recalled how Long once rescued a woman from an overturned vehicle, pulling her to safety without regard for his own well-being.
Family members described Long as a hero, both for his military service and for the actions that ultimately cost him his life. His obituary reflected the belief that he died while trying to protect others, cementing his legacy as someone willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.
After the conviction was announced, Long’s mother expressed gratitude for the outcome, saying the verdict brought a measure of relief and appreciation for the jury’s efforts. She credited the legal system for delivering what she viewed as the right decision.
Morrissette, who now awaits sentencing, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder conviction. In addition to the murder charge, he was also found guilty of possessing a firearm on school property, an offense carrying a recommended sentence of one year.
Defense attorneys indicated plans to appeal the verdict, though details about the grounds for appeal have yet to be disclosed.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 14. Meanwhile, Morrissette is also facing unrelated charges involving possession of child sexual abuse material, authorities said.