Elk City, OK – A Beckham County jury has found Clayton Samson Hays guilty of first-degree murder in the January 2024 shooting death of Colter Jake Vaught. The verdict was delivered Friday, October 3, 2025, after a five-day trial in Beckham County District Court.

Jurors recommended a life sentence for Hays, 38, of Carter.

The case stems from a shooting on January 11, 2024, near an oilfield business on South Merritt Road in Elk City. Court records show Hays told investigators he fired a 9mm handgun at Vaught, 42, during a confrontation at a stop sign. Hays claimed Vaught tried to enter his semi-truck and began striking him. Vaught was shot in the chest and died at the scene.

According to a probable cause affidavit, investigators noted no visible injuries on Hays consistent with his account of a physical struggle. The affidavit also detailed an ongoing feud between the two men. Just weeks earlier, authorities had responded to a verbal altercation between Hays and Vaught at the Vaught family home.

Hays was originally charged with first-degree manslaughter but prosecutors later pursued a first-degree murder charge.

While awaiting trial, Hays made headlines again in May 2024 when he was accused of desecrating a roadside memorial for Vaught. Court records show that Hays, who had been released on a $500,000 bond in late March, was required to wear a GPS ankle monitor as part of his bond conditions.

According to an affidavit, witnesses reported seeing someone in a pickup stop at the memorial on May 16 and throw a white plastic bag at the base of the cross. The bag was later found to contain animal feces. GPS data allegedly placed Hays at the location at the time of the incident.

He was arrested the following day and booked back into the Beckham County Jail. In addition to the murder charge, Hays was also charged with outraging public decency.

With Friday’s guilty verdict, Hays now faces life in prison. His sentencing date has been set for mid-November.

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