Paul Stephen Bernius IV, 46, was shot to death in his Broken Arrow, Oklahoma home on Sunday, September 19, 2021. Bernius reportedly sought a protective order in the weeks before the shooting, saying he felt threatened after O’Bryan refused to vacate; that petition was dismissed shortly before the fatal confrontation.

On the evening of September 19, a dispute over the thermostat turned physical and ended when O’Bryan allegedly retrieved a gun and fired multiple times. Officers who responded to reports of gunfire found Bernius with several wounds to his chest and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators identified O’Bryan as the primary suspect and, with assistance from U.S. Marshals and the department’s Special Operations Team, arrested him in Jenks less than 24 hours after the shooting.

Were there signs neighbors or friends noticed of the conflict between the men before it turned deadly?