OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — A member of an Oklahoma biker gang has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with a deadly shooting at the Whiskey Barrel Saloon in southwest Oklahoma City in April 2023. Douglas Jacobs, who was initially charged with first-degree murder, entered a blind plea of guilty to all charges on January 24, 2025.
Jacobs, 35, was involved in a violent altercation between rival biker gangs at the popular bar, which escalated into gunfire. The incident left Eric Oberholtzer dead, along with two other individuals who were also fatally shot. Authorities say the confrontation was part of a long-standing feud between the gangs, which often led to tense and dangerous situations in the area.
Following the plea, the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office amended the original first-degree murder charge to second-degree murder. Jacobs was sentenced to 15 years in the Department of Corrections. Additionally, he was given a 20-year suspended sentence, meaning he will serve a portion of the sentence while the remainder is deferred, contingent on his behavior during incarceration.
The case highlights the ongoing tensions within biker gang communities in Oklahoma and the violence that sometimes erupts from these rivalries. Jacobs’ guilty plea brings some closure to the families of the victims, though the impact of the shooting continues to be felt by the community.
As the legal process moves forward, law enforcement officials are focusing on further investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting and working to curb gang-related violence in the region.
