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Inset, left to right: Emmitt Gresham (GoFundMe), Anisha D. Washington (Oklahoma County Detention Center). Background: The area in Oklahoma City where Gresham was killed (Google Maps).
In Oklahoma, a 21-year-old woman faces allegations of orchestrating a deadly setup that resulted in the shooting death of a 19-year-old tattoo artist during a haircut at her residence last month.
Authorities have arrested Anisha Danielle Washington, charging her with first-degree murder in connection with the killing of Emmitt Gresham, according to court records.
A 17-year-old boy has also been apprehended and charged with acting as an accessory in the murder of Gresham. Due to his age, his identity remains undisclosed. Reports indicate he allegedly lingered outside the apartment complex during the incident, subsequently driving the assailants away.
The tragic event unfolded on January 18 at an apartment complex located in the 600 block of North Stonewall Avenue, Oklahoma City, as reported by local CBS affiliate KWTV reported.
Gresham’s mother, Teri Thompson, shared with the station her anguish over her son’s murder last month. She revealed that he was performing a tattoo as a favor in exchange for a haircut at Washington’s apartment when two assailants entered, fatally shooting him and fleeing with his backpack.
“The detective said that he was in the chair getting his hair done and the door was left unlocked and someone came in, demanded his belongings and shot him,” she told KWTV in January. However, she maintained that she believed the haircut was a ruse.
“I do believe he was set up,” Thompson said. “I believe it was intentional for them to rob him, maybe not to escalate to the homicide, but they still robbed my baby of his life.”
Thompson’s belief appears to be supported by evidence. After several weeks of investigation, authorities now allege that Washington, who owned the apartment where the murder took place, arranged for Gresham to be robbed while getting his hair done, local NBC affiliate KFOR reported.
In a probable cause affidavit, police say Washington sent multiple videos to the 17-year-old defendant showing her holding several of Gresham’s firearms shortly before he was killed.
Less than 30 minutes after Washington sent the videos to the teen, surveillance footage from her apartment building reportedly showed her and two other individuals, one of whom was carrying Gresham’s backpack, running out of the building and into the waiting car.
Two other individuals believed to have taken part in the robbery and murder are currently on the run, KWTV reported, citing a probable cause affidavit.
Police reportedly told Thompson that with his last words, Gresham asked police to contact her.
“The detectives did tell me that his last words, even to them, was call my mama,” she said. “Call my mama. Give me some help, call my mama.”
A GoFundMe started by Thompson to pay for her son’s funeral arrangements said her son was “always smiling, eager to help others, and never asked for anything in return.”
“Emmitt was set up to be robbed — he agreed to a hair appointment in exchange for a tattoo, but while he was getting his hair done, someone broke in, demanded his belongings, and shot him,” she wrote. “My son didn’t bother anyone and would have given up anything to avoid violence. He was not money-hungry; he simply wanted to help people and make them happy.”
Washington is currently being held in the Oklahoma County Detention Center. She appeared on Friday before District Judge Thomas C. Riesen, who ordered her held on $10 million bond, court records show.