Suvechha Sarkar
In April 2017, 51-year-old Aftab Ahmed/Aftab Ahmed Khan arrived at his workplace in Tulsa, Oklahoma, like any other day, and focused on his duties. However, the life of the dutiful father and loving partner came to an abrupt halt when he was shot to death. A&E’s ‘The First 48: The Standoff’ followed investigators in real time as they gathered several pieces of evidence that led to the arrest of three individuals connected to the fatal armed robbery. It also delves deeper into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, providing an insight into Aftab’s life.
Aftab Ahmed Khan Died From Gunshot Wounds at His Workplace
Aftab Ahmed Khan arrived as a bundle of joy in the lives of his parents sometime around 1966. He was born and raised in a tight-knit and loving household in Pakistan. He was known among his loved ones for his hardworking and compassionate nature. He eventually relocated to the US to build a promising and unique path for himself. Aftab gradually began his professional journey while remaining dedicated to his personal life. Around 1997, he crossed paths with the love of his life, and it wasn’t long before they began living together. The relationship helped him welcome his stepdaughter, Breyona Greenlee, into his life.
Over the next few years, Aftab and his live-in partner welcomed their three children into the world. By 2017, he was working as a clerk at the register of the convenience store, S&K Food Mart, near North Sheridan Road and East Virgin Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Simultaneously, he always made sure to send a portion of his earnings back home to Pakistan. Everything appeared to be going well until the life of 51-year-old Aftab came to an abrupt halt on April 28, 2017. Shortly after 6 pm on that fateful day, he was working at the store when an individual came in to rob the business with a handgun.
A customer who witnessed the incident promptly called 911 and reported that while leaving, he had heard multiple gunshots. When officials arrived at the scene, they found Aftab dead from gunshots on the floor. Upon inspecting the scene, they discovered three .40-caliber shell casings. They also found another projectile in the store register. The autopsy report revealed that Aftab was shot three times— once in the forehead and twice below the neck. His cause of death was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds, and his manner of death was ruled a homicide.
The Three Suspects Were Taken Into Custody After an Intense Standoff
At the scene, officials first spoke with the 911 caller, who informed them that he had seen an individual try to rob the convenience store with a gun in hand while Aftab was working. According to official reports, detectives soon obtained the surveillance footage from the store. While reviewing it, they found that it captured a suspect wearing sunglasses and pointing a firearm at the 51-year-old. The footage also showed the suspect gesturing for Aftab to hand over the money from the cash register. Police records suggest that they found another CCTV footage that captured the shooter getting into a 1999 Ford Expedition.
After reviewing other footage, detectives believed that the shooter and another person later went to a bakery before robbing that store. As per investigative reports, when they tracked down another witness to the second robbery, the individual identified the same Ford as the suspect vehicle and provided officials with its license plate number. Additionally, officials obtained surveillance pictures from a school near the area, which captured a person resembling the shooter getting into the same vehicle before fleeing. They then tracked the car to Meadow Apartments, located at 2800 South 115th East Avenue, after an officer found the Ford there.
Following that, law enforcement officials determined that three suspects were hiding in the apartment complex’s attic. On the night of April 28, the police operation resulted in a standoff at the location before they ultimately took three of them into custody. They were ultimately identified as Cesar Espinoza, Jose Mata, and Bayle Snell. According to records, Tulsa police investigated whether the vehicle was connected to an earlier robbery that took place at 11th and Lewis. Ultimately, Cesar, Bayle, and Jose were charged with first-degree murder, resisting arrest, possession of a stolen vehicle, and two counts of armed robbery.
Cesar Espinoza is Incarcerated at an Oklahoma Prison Facility Today
Following his arrest, Cesar was set to face trial, but he ultimately avoided it by entering into a plea agreement with the prosecution. On February 9, 2018, he pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Aftab. He also pleaded guilty to other charges of robbery with a dangerous weapon, feloniously pointing a firearm, possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, and obstructing an officer. Subsequently, Cesar was sentenced to life in prison for the murder. On March 21, 2018, Jose pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder.
Additionally, Jose entered into a guilty plea to the charges of robbery with a dangerous weapon, unauthorized use of a vehicle, possessing a firearm while on felony probation, and obstructing an officer, as well as several additional robbery counts. Jose received a sentence of 45 years in prison. According to the show, Bayle pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and was later sentenced to a 5-year term in state prison. Prison records state that he was released on supervision on August 27, 2021. Jose is currently incarcerated at the Chief James Smith Correctional Center in Lawton, Oklahoma. As of writing, Cesar is serving his sentence at the Mack Alford Correctional Center in Atoka, Oklahoma.
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