Oklahoma
Oklahoma 7-Eleven clerk, mom of 3, fired after shooting customer who attacked her: ‘I need to be here for my kids’
A brave Oklahoma 7-Eleven clerk was fired for shooting a customer, who tried to strangle her and threatened to “slice her head off” — because she used her own gun, violating the convenience store’s policy.
Stephanie Dilyard, 25, said she was working alone at the Oklahoma City 7-Eleven just after midnight on Nov. 14 when a man came in and tried to pay for a trove of junk food with a counterfeit $100 bill, KOKH reported.
The mother of three said that when she called the man out on the bill being bogus, he began threatening her and became erratic.
“He threatened me, and said he was gonna slice my head off, and that’s when I tried to call the police,” she recalled.
Dilyard said the brute started hurling objects at her before he rushed behind the counter and put his hands on her.
“I tried to run off, but he grabbed his hands around my neck, and pushed me out of the counter space, and that’s when I pulled out my gun and I shot him,” she said.
The suspect, Kenneth Thompson, fled the store after he was shot in the stomach. The 59-year-old made it a few blocks away from the 7-Eleven before calling 911.
The alleged violent fraudster was taken into custody at the hospital and charged with assault and battery, threatening acts of violence, attempting to pass counterfeit currency, and violating parole on an outstanding felony warrant.
Investigators ruled that Dilyard’s actions were justified under Oklahoma’s stand-your-ground law, which allows people to use deadly force when confronting an imminent threat of death or serious harm.
While authorities have cleared the 25-year-old mom, her employer fired her just days after the frightening ordeal on Nov. 17.
“They said that they were going to separate from employment because of a violation of policy,” Dilyard, who had been working the overnight shift alone from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. for more than two years, said.
Dilyard, who still had a scratch on her neck and burn marks on her finger from firing the gun, told the outlet that all she cared about when she was getting attacked was getting home to her kids.
“This was a situation where I felt like I was put into a corner between choosing between my job, and my life, and I’m always going to choose my life because there’s people that depend on me. Just, I’m going, I’m going home, you know. I need to be here for my kids,” she said.
She hopes what she endured will drive changes that better protect clerks — especially women — and ensure they aren’t afraid to defend themselves when facing a life-or-death threat.
“If I’ve known that there’s a potential that somebody is for real on taking my life away that I will do whatever it takes, and I hope that women see that, and they’ll do the same thing,” she said.
“You have a right to defend yourself.”
Since losing her job, Dilyard has launched a GoFundMe to help her family with expenses while she’s out of work and said she had zero regrets for defending herself.
“We have no security, and we are not allowed to carry self defense weapons, including mace,” she wrote. “That’s is why I decided to carry in the first place.”
“I never expected for me to be in this situation, but I did what I had to do to go home to my kids. I was a good employee, committed and determined, but in-between a rock and a hard place I had to make a quick decision—lose my life, or lose my job,” she added.
The Post has reached out to 7-Eleven for comment.
Oklahoma tornadoes, Drummond mosque investigation and other news
Catch up on everything that happened in the news this week as of Jan. 9, 2026.
Missing 12-year-old Ryan “RJ” Davis has been found safe, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Jan. 11, the OSBI said Davis was located in Chickasha.
“The OSBI appreciates all our local law enforcement partners and search groups who assisted us throughout the week,” the OSBI posted. “We will provide updates when they become available.
The boy had been missing since Jan. 2.
News9 reported Sunday afternoon that OSBI spokesman Hunter McKee said the United Cajun Navy made contact with RJ and took him back to a hotel, where authorities processed him and took him to the hospital. Authorities said RJ appears to be fine physically, according to News9
The United Cajun Navy is a nonprofit grassroots group out of Louisiana that assists in search and rescue efforts and disaster recovery.
The boy’s mother, Kimberly Kay Cole, and stepfather, George Franklin Cole Jr., were arrested earlier this week on suspicion of child abuse and as of Sunday were still listed as being in custody at the Caddo County Jail in Anadarko. It’s not yet clear whether the charges are directly related to RJ’s disappearance, but the arrests came after officers interviewed the parents and obtained evidence from search warrants.
Authorities said Thursday, Jan. 8, that they believed RJ was still alive. Prior to Sunday, he was last seen Jan. 2 near the Chickasha Quality Inn.
Searchers were targeting a vast rural area from Cement to Chickasha, which is within an hour’s drive from Oklahoma City. The search included properties associated with the family. It was unclear from the OSBI’s Facebook post where in Chickasha the boy was found.
This story was updated to add new information.
Contributing: Staff writer Dale Denwalt
After building a four-point lead midway through the second half, Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball couldn’t close the door Saturday afternoon in College Station, dropping an 83-76 decision to Texas A&M Aggies men’s basketball.
Oklahoma led 67-63 with just over 10 minutes to play, but the Aggies finished the game on a 20-9 run, capitalizing on turnovers and trips to the free-throw line to pull away down the stretch.
Late mistakes prove costly
The Sooners entered the game averaging a league-low 9.5 turnovers, but committed a season-high 17 against Texas A&M. Those miscues turned into an 18-8 disadvantage in points off turnovers and allowed the Aggies to control the closing minutes.
Texas A&M also made its mark at the stripe, going 21 of 25 (84%) at the free-throw line. Oklahoma finished 13 of 16 (81%), but the volume favored the home team.
“Well, a game that featured 19 lead changes, 42 fouls and 64 three-point attempts,” said Toby Rowland. “Texas A&M had the final kick in this one as they pulled away to the victory down the stretch. Oklahoma, a season-high 17 turnovers, and in the end, that did them in.”
Pack leads the way offensively
Despite the loss, Nijel Pack delivered one of his best performances of the season. The junior guard scored a game-high 24 points, matching his season high with six 3-pointers, while also adding six rebounds and five assists.
Pack also crossed a milestone, surpassing 2,000 career points during the game.
Oklahoma got strong contributions in the frontcourt as well. Derrion Reid recorded the first double-double of his career with 19 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, knocking down four 3-pointers. Tae Davis added 12 points and 10 boards, giving the Sooners two double-doubles on the day.
Xzayvier Brown, who had averaged nearly 20 points over his previous six games, was held to seven points on 3-of-9 shooting.
Strong start, tough finish
Oklahoma scored the first five points of the game but trailed by as many as 10 in the first half before responding with a 20-10 run to tie it at 43 late. A late Aggie three sent Texas A&M into halftime with a 48-45 lead.
The Sooners came out hot after the break, regaining the lead behind threes from Pack and Reid. Brown’s acrobatic layup and free throw pushed Oklahoma ahead 67-63, but the offense stalled from there. OU went 4 of 14 from the field over the final 10 minutes and missed its last 10 three-point attempts after starting 11 of 21.
What’s next
Oklahoma controlled the glass 43-32 and owned an 18-7 edge in second-chance points, but couldn’t overcome the late execution issues.
After back-to-back road losses, the Sooners return home Tuesday night to host defending national champion Florida Gators men’s basketball at Lloyd Noble Center. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT, with coverage on ESPN2.
Although only two Sooners landed on the first or second team this year, Oklahoma was well-represented on the 2025 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team.
Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey was named to the first team, and San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams was named second team.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson, Denver Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto and punt returner Marvin Mims, Washington Commanders punter Tress Way, Chiefs long snapper James Winchester, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jalen Redmond all received All-Pro votes from the AP’s 50 media voters who cover the league.
Last year, Humphrey and Mims earned first-team honors, while Bonitto, Johnson and Lamb made second team, giving OU five All-Pros — most of any school.
It’s Humphrey’s third time on the AP All-Pro team and his second as a first-teamer. He led the voting at center with 93 total points, including 26 first-place votes. (First-place votes are worth 3 points, second-place votes are worth 1.)
Humphrey redshirted at OU in 2017, then was a three-year starter from 2018-2020 and was named Big 12 Offensive Lineman of The Year twice. Humphrey, from Shawnee, has made the Pro Bowl each of the last four seasons and is a two-time Super Bowl champion.
Read More
Oklahoma Lands Top 2027 DL Recruit
Sooners Reel In 2027 All-American LB Prospect
How Close is OU to Bringing SEC Back to Championship Game?
Williams is a five-time All-Pro (first team 2021-23) and a 12-time Pro Bowler. By just one vote, Williams finished second in this year’s voting to Denver’s Garett Bolles, who got 74 points and 19 first-place votes, while Williams got 71 points and 19 first-place votes.
At OU from 2006-09, he was the fourth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft after twice being named first-team All-Big 12 and Consensus All-America in 2009.
The results of The Associated Press 2025 NFL All-Pro balloting as selected by a national panel of 50 media members. First-place votes in parentheses are worth three points, second-place votes worth one:
Offense
Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams, 111 (31); Drake…— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) January 10, 2026
Johnson had been on five previous AP All-Pro teams, including twice as a first-team selection. Johnson came to OU in 2009 as a junior college quarterback, moved to tight end, then defensive end and eventually offensive tackle in 2011, when he made second-team All-Big 12 in back-to-back seasons. He was third in the voting among right tackles, earning 12 votes.
Mims, a third-year pro, landed All-Pro accolades in each of his first two years in the league. At OU, Mims had 2,398 yards and 20 touchdowns as a receiver, and averaged 11.8 yards as a punt returner. He received 11 points (one first-place) and finished fourth in the voting.
Bonitto picked up his first All-Pro honor last year after registering 13.5 quarterback sacks (third in the NFL) and earning a spot in the Pro Bowl. Bonitto was a two-time AP All-American at Oklahoma (second team in 2022, third team in ’23), logging 33 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one interception. He finished seventh in the voting among edge rushers, picking up 54 points (11 first place).
Winchester got five points (one first place) as long snapper and finished eighth in the voting. Way received 28 points (six first place) and was fourth in the voting at punter. Redmond got one vote as an interior defensive lineman, while Lamb got one vote as a wideout.
Humphrey was the only former Sooner to land on the Pro Football Focus All-Pro Team (first team). He also was the only OU player with a spot on the ESPN All-Pro team (first team).
Humphrey (first team) and Williams (second team) also were honored by USA Today, Yahoo and Sports Illustrated.
W.Va. couple arrested in South Carolina after allegedly kidnapping biological child
Tunkhannock woman killed in Wyoming County crash
Arthur Hayes Discusses How the Price of Bitcoin and Certain Cryptos Will Skyrocket
Cheers Financial Taps into AI to Build Credit – Los Angeles Business Journal
These are the best fitness and nutrition apps to hit your 2026 health goals
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
San Antonio ends its abortion travel fund after new state law, legal action
UN top court set to open Myanmar Rohingya genocide case
Arson engulfs Mississippi synagogue, a congregation once bombed by Ku Klux Klan
Federal judge blocks Trump administration from enforcing mail-in voting rules in executive order
Four killed, 20 injured in overnight Russian strikes across Ukraine
-
Detroit, MI1 week ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology6 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX3 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Delaware3 days agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Dallas, TX7 days agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Iowa5 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Montana1 day agoService door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says
-
Health1 week agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits