June 1, 2021
By News Director Jared Atha
An Elk City man is wanted after being charged in Beckham County District Court with one count of 1st degree murder stemming from a botched robbery last November.
According to the probable cause affidavit, 29-year-old Elijah Dean Royse was charged last week after an investigation showed that he allegedly provided the gun that was used in the robbery attempt, the gun was ultimately the weapon that killed one of the suspects – and shot another.
Court records also alleged that Royse was the “look out” for the two other suspects while the robbery attempt was taking place.
The incident took place during the morning of November 21, 2020 when according to authorities with the Elk City Police Department the shooting took place inside a home in the 600 block of N. Watkins. The home owner would tell police that two men, 25-year-old Isaiah Johnson and 39-year-old Samuel Castro Junior had entered his home and approached the victim in his bedroom. He would say that Castro would point a gun at his head and demanded money. Fearing for his life, the homeowner would successfully overpower and take the gun from Castro and stated that he shot Castro multiple times until he fell to the floor. Castro died at the scene. The homeowner stated that Johnson would flee the home.
Later, police were contacted by the Great Plains Regional Medical Center to report a man that was being treated for a gunshot wound to the chest and arm. The man, Johnson, was treated and released to the Elk City Police where he was transported to the Elk City Police Department for questioning.
Police say after a lengthy interview, Johnson would allegedly confess the he knew that Castro had a handgun before entering into the home. Johnson would tell police that he was inside the room where the shooting occurred and would flee the scene after being shot in the chest and arm. He stated that he then walked to the hospital for treatment.
Johnson was charged with 1st degree murder back in November.
After an investigation, Royse is believed to have provided the two with the gun and was providing a look-out outside of the home when the shooting occurred. Court documents state that after the shooting, Royse fled the scene, going to his residence and telling Johnson’s girlfriend about the incident.
He would flee that home as police arrived to avoid being detained or arrested.
As of press time, Royse has not been apprehended.
