Oklahoma man arrested after 'shooting and decapitating grandparents' at their day care home

Quinton Dashawn Laster, 20, faces two counts of first-degree murder

Booking photo provided by the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office shows Quinton Dashawn Laster (AP )

A young man has been arrested after allegedly shooting and decapitating his grandmother and her husband, police have said.

Quinton Dashawn Laster, 20, was arrested on Tuesday after officers found the bodies of Sharon Reed, 59, and James Earl Reed, 78, in their home in Oklahoma City where all three lived, said Sgt Ashley Peters.

The couple operated an in-home day care service at the property and three children were also found when police discovered the bodies, Associated Press reports.

None of the children were harmed and it understood they did not witness the crime. Their ages are not known.

Police arrived at the home after a neighbour called and asked officers to check on the couple. The neighbour called the authorities after speaking with Laster.

“I’m not sure exactly what words were exchanged with the neighbour, but the neighbour called 911,” said Sgt Peters.

She added investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind the deaths.

The Reed's neighbour, Hal Hartsock, said the family were dear friends and respected members of the community.

“They were the kind of neighbours everyone wants,” said Mr Hartsock, adding he did not know Laster well, but had no reason to suspect there was any unrest in the family.

Laster is being held on two complaints of first-degree murder. There was no lawyer listed for him in an online arrest report.

He was also arrested as a juvenile in February last year for misdemeanour assault and battery. Sgt Peters said: “He has a history with us, but it’s not extensive.”

This is the third time in the last year and a half someone has been charged in Oklahoma with a crime related to beheading, according to AP.