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Oklahoma 7-Eleven clerk, mom of 3, fired after shooting customer who attacked her: ‘I need to be here for my kids’

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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.

Stephanie Dilyard was fired for shooting a deranged customer who attacked her while working alone overnight at 7-Eleven. KOKH Fox 25

“He threatened me, and said he was gonna slice my head off, and that’s when I tried to call the police,” she recalled.

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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.

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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.


A street view showing a 7-Eleven store with a red roof next to a
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. KOKH Fox 25

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.

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“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. 

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South Carolina vs. Oklahoma – Sweet 16 NCAA tournament extended highlights

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South Carolina vs. Oklahoma – Sweet 16 NCAA tournament extended highlights


Women’s Basketball

March 28, 2026

South Carolina vs. Oklahoma – Sweet 16 NCAA tournament extended highlights

March 28, 2026

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Watch the highlights from No. 1 South Carolina and No. 4 Oklahoma’s matchup in the Sweet 16 of the 2026 women’s NCAA tournament.



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OU basketball vs South Carolina prediction, our pick for Women’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

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OU basketball vs South Carolina prediction, our pick for Women’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16


SACRAMENTO, CA — Oklahoma women’s basketball is looking to advance to its first Elite Eight since 2010 when it faces South Carolina in the Sweet 16 on Saturday.

The No. 4 seed Sooners previously defeated the No. 1 seed Gamecocks 94-82 in overtime on Jan. 22.

OU has won nine of its last 10 games, including defeating Idaho in the first round of the Women’s NCAA Tournament and Michigan State in the second round.

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The matchup will be a battle of two of the best offenses nationally as the Sooners rank fourth in scoring offense while South Carolina ranks third.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of OU’s Sweet 16 contest against the Gamecocks:

Watch Oklahoma vs South Carolina live with Fubo

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When does Oklahoma play in March Madness? What time is Sooners basketball game vs South Carolina in NCAA women’s basketball tournament?

  • Date: Saturday, March 28
  • Time: 4 p.m. CT
  • Location: Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California

How to watch Oklahoma vs South Carolina in NCAA Tournament: Time, TV channel, live stream

Oklahoma vs South Carolina airs on ESPN at 4 p.m. CT Saturday.

Streaming options include FUBO.

Oklahoma vs. South Carolina in NCAA Tournament score prediction

South Carolina 93, Oklahoma 81: The Sooners keep it competitive early behind Aaliyah Chavez. But the Gamecocks’ size and depth prove too much in the fourth quarter. Dawn Staley hasn’t lost in the Sweet 16 since 2019 and that won’t change Saturday.

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Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.



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Rapper Snoop Dogg to star in, produce ‘God of the Rodeo’ film shot in Oklahoma

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Rapper Snoop Dogg to star in, produce ‘God of the Rodeo’ film shot in Oklahoma


Rapper and hip hop icon Snoop Dogg is set to produce and star in a feature film that will be shot in Oklahoma this year.

“God of the Rodeo” is based on a 1998 book from New York-based journalist and author Daniel Bergner, who reported on inmates competing in a controversial rodeo inside Louisiana’s Angola Prison in the 1960s. According to Deadline, the film centers around Bucckey, an inmate serving a life sentence who “finds a glimmer of redemption” through the rodeo. Snoop’s role has not yet been announced.

The film is directed by Rosalind Ross, who is best known for writing, directing and executive producing “Father Stu.” Snoop will produce alongside Sara Ramker, Giannina Scott and Ridley Scott, Deadline reports.

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce confirmed to News 9 on Friday “God of the Rodeo” was pre-approved for the state’s film incentive program through Oklahoma Film + Music.

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Filming is scheduled in Oklahoma for June 15 through July 31, according to Oklahoma Film + Music’s website. The website also lists Tulsa-based production company Rebellium Films as working on the film. Filming locations have not been announced yet.





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