OKLAHOMA CITY – The attorney for an Oklahoma City pastor charged with the murder of his son-in-law is asking a judge to set bond for his client.
Michael Elder's attorney, Malcolm Savage, wants Elder's bond set at $25,000. Savage says his client is a well-respected member of the community and does not pose a threat to anyone in the community, according to court documents.
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Elder would live with his wife of 25 years and remove firearms from his home, court documents confirmed. A judge will rule on the motion at the end of the week.
Elder shot and killed his son-in-law, Gary Davidson, 27, as Davidson tried to pull his estranged wife, Elder's daughter, from a moving pickup truck, according to an affidavit. Just a day before the fatal shooting, Davidson called 911 to report that his father-in-law had stolen his truck.
"It was determined later that it was, in fact, some type of civil matter, so no further action was taken on our part," said Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow of the Oklahoma City Police.
However, a dispute the next day resulted in Davidson's death, according to the affidavit.
Davidson's estranged wife, April Davidson, had made arrangements to get their daughter in exchange for the truck. Michael Elder tagged along for the exchange. However, court documents indicate, that Gary Davidson refused to agree to the exchange.
At that point, April Davidson began to drive away. Court documents indicate that Gary Davidson ran from the house, jumped in the passenger seat of the truck as it was moving and grabbed April, trying to pull her from the truck. April Davidson said that her husband had his foot on the gas while she had it on the brake.
Meanwhile, court documents indicate that Elder ran along the passenger side of the truck and shot Gary Davidson as April Davidson yelled for help.
Elder is the senior pastor at the Cross Baptist Church located on Southwest 96th Street in Oklahoma City.
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