More details emerge in southern Logan County Thanksgiving homicide

New information has come to light regarding the Thanksgiving homicide that occurred in far southern Logan County, shedding more details on the events leading up to the fatal shooting.

What initially appeared to be an unattended death turned into a homicide investigation following the discovery of a bullet lodged in the victim’s body. The victim, identified as Michael Smith, was found deceased on Thanksgiving night in the front yard of a property in southern Logan County. Related article: Man found dead on Thanksgiving night; investigation reveals suspicious circumstances

The call for a welfare check came in on the evening of Nov. 28 from a property owner in the 3400 block of E. County Oaks Road. Smith had been staying on the property for approximately 7-10 days, living in a tent at the owner’s permission. On that cold November night, the property owner found Smith’s body outside and promptly contacted authorities.

Deputies from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, along with a representative from the Medical Examiner’s Office, arrived at the scene. They reported finding no immediate signs of foul play, blood, or significant trauma to the body, which was clothed in three to four layers of clothing. While the death initially appeared to be from natural causes, the body was transported to the medical examiner’s office for a more thorough examination.

On Dec. 2nd, the Medical Examiner’s Office notified the Sheriff’s Office that a small-caliber bullet had been discovered in Smith’s body. This revelation led investigators to reopen the case as a possible homicide.

After obtaining a search warrant, investigators were able to piece together details of the events surrounding Smith’s death. They determined that on the night of the incident, three individuals had been at the residence. Witnesses, including neighbors, reported hearing gunshots, followed by two vehicles leaving the area.

As a result of the ongoing investigation, Aldon Owen Harmon was arrested on Dec. 3rd.

According to court documents obtained by Guthrie News Page, investigators spoke with witnesses who described a confrontation at Smith’s tent. They stated that two white males and one white female approached the tent. Witnesses said Smith and a male, later identified as Steven Canning, were both holding bats, while a female carried a rake to fend off a barking dog. Shortly after, a male, later identified as Harmon, was seen emerging from a truck.

Witnesses reported hearing what sounded like a small-caliber gunshot and saw Harmon return to the truck and drive away. They also observed Smith struggling to stand, backpedaling toward his tent, and eventually falling to the ground. Initially, the witnesses believed Smith may have “tripped.”

It was further reported that the female left in a vehicle and Canning left the scene with the bicycle. The witnesses said they heard, “He stole my 10-year-old’s bike.”

According to the Logan County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), Smith had made multiple 911 calls in the weeks prior to Nov. 28 reporting various situations on Troutt Drive. During a search of the area, authorities discovered a black Ford truck matching Harmon’s description parked in front of the residence in question. A search warrant executed on the residence led to the recovery of multiple firearms.

Before the search, Harmon told authorities he had confronted Smith at a convenience store, accusing him of stealing his friend’s daughter’s bicycle. Harmon identified his friend as Canning and claimed the confrontation was an attempt to retrieve the bicycle. Harmon, however, denied possessing a firearm or hearing a gunshot during the incident.

During an interview at LCSO, Canning alleged that Harmon shot Smith with a silver revolver before fleeing the scene in his truck, leaving Canning and the female behind.

Harmon continued to deny having a firearm or any involvement in the shooting, maintaining his version of events.

During the search warrant, one of the firearms seized at Harmon’s residence was a silver revolver matching Canning’s recolletion of the weapon. The firearm has been sent off for further testing.

Canning added he was not sure the bicycle in fact was his daughter’s and abandoned the bicycle, which after further investigation the bicycle was eventually located in an abandoned and dilapidated shed.

Both Harmon and Canning have been charged with first-degree murder, with their bond set at $10 million each. Additionally, Canning faces an extra charge of possession of a firearm after a felony conviction.