Teen confesses to Melbourne baseball star Christopher Lane's death in ... - Herald Sun

An image from the Facebook page of Sarah Harper, the girlfriend of Australian baseballer Chris Lane. Supplied: FACEBOOK Source: Supplied

THREE teenagers face the death penalty after one admitted to murdering Melbourne baseball star Chris Lane in what his devastated family has described as a ''senseless killing''.

Oklahoma's Duncan Police Department chief Danny Ford said a 16-year-old boy had confessed to pulling the trigger and killing Lane, 22, in a drive-by shooting ''killing spree'' in Oklahoma because they "just wanted to kill someone".

The three teenagers will be formally charged at 4.30 AEST today.

Ford said the attack was not racially motivated.

``It was just three clowns who got together and decided to kill,'' he said.

Ford said the police had released the body but was unsure of plans to repatriate Lane's body back to Melbourne.

Lane, a sports scholarship student at East Central University, was jogging through an area of "high dollar homes" late Friday afternoon local time after leaving the home of his American girlfriend, Sarah Harper, when he was followed and shot.

Christopher Lane’s mother and sister. Source: News Limited

Witnesses saw Lane stumble across the road and then get down on his knees before struggling to a drainage area on the side of the road.

A woman who came from a nearby house tried CPR while another woman who was in a car stopped and called 911.

'I love you so much': girlfriend's moving tribute to baseball star

The alleged killer and his two accomplices, aged 15 and 17, are now in custody at Stephens County Jail and will face charges of first-degree murder, which carries a maximum sentence of the death penalty.

Chief Ford said the three teenagers had no motive other than to ''make a name for themselves'' and were on their way to another house to murder a second, unrelated victim when they were arrested.

Lane's death a tragedy with no rhyme or reason

He also said the killer left a chilling message on Facebook before the spree - "Bang. Two drops in two hours".

A tribute left on the home plate at Essendon Bombers Baseball field for murdered Melbourne baseballer Christopher Lane. Source: News Limited

"They wanted to be Billy Bob Badasses," Chief Ford said.

"I think they were on a killing spree.

"We would have had more bodies that night if we didn't get them.

"Lately there has been some pretty weak motives, but I don't know that I've had one that they told us they were just going to kill somebody.

"I know everybody thinks there has to be a reason, but I've been in this business for 30 years and there doesn't have to be a reason with these kids," Chief Ford said.

"It is a sad, sad thing what happened with that young man."

Yesterday, shocked family and friends were trying to make sense of the tragedy.

Lane, who grew up in Oak Park in Melbourne's north had only been back in the States for three days after an eight-week spring break in Australia with Ms Harper.

Christopher Lane with girlfriend, Sarah Harper. Supplied: Facebook Source: Supplied

Ms Harper wrote a moving tribute on Facebook.

``The past 4 years have been the most amazing years of my life and that's all because of you babe," she wrote.

"I love you so much babe. From 2009 until forever you will always be mine and in a very special and protected place in my heart."

His father Peter Lane paid tribute to his son and said the family was still waiting on news from the US authorities regarding the repatriation of Chris's body.

"There is not going to be any good come out of this. It was so senseless. There was nothing he did or could have done," Lane said.

"It's happened. It's wrong and we just try and deal with it the best we can."

Christopher Lane’s devastated family. Source: News Limited

Flowers and a baseball were placed on the home plate at Essendon Baseball Club yesterday morning with a message. "A wonderful young man taken too soon," it read. "Why?"

College friend Marshall Veal added Lane had ``brought light to each of us''.

"Lanes would have done anything in the world for all of us and we would do the same, he was a best friend, teammate, and most of all a Brother. We love you Laney."

Local Bill Renfrow, who lives just metres from the intersection where Lane was shot, said Duncan locals had erected a flower memorial for him at the site of the attack.

"It's sad to us, more than anything. It's shocking. He was a visitor in our country.

"This is a very quiet neighbourhood, there's never any trouble here."

Essendon Baseball Club's match against the University of Melbourne on Sunday will be turned into a tribute to Lane, to raise money for the family.

Christopher Lane and girlfriend, Sarah Harper. Supplied: Facebook Source: Supplied