Lawton records 18 homicides in 2023

Lawton’s homicides last year saw a decrease from prior years but still reached 18, according to Constitution records.

Homicide is defined by an act by a person causing the death of another person and include accidental, reckless or negligent acts, whether or not harm is intended. It can also include self-defense.

The city’s first homicide happened Jan. 17, 2023, in the parking lot of Aces & Eights Lounge, 1825 Cache Road. Elijah Jones, 20, was found bleeding from his neck and pronounced dead at the scene.

Lawton police viewed security video from the bar and identified Christian Vance Lane Sr., 31, as the man who pulled the trigger. On Jan. 24, 2023, Lane was arrested following a police chase that began in the parking lot of apartments at 2505 NW 82nd Street, according to the probable cause affidavit. A U.S. Marshal and Lawton police detectives attempted to arrest him after developing him as the suspect Jones’ death

When law enforcement turned on their lights, Lane sped off, the affidavit states. A high-speed pursuit reaching up to 115 mph in wet conditions also involved the Cotton County Sherrif’s Office and Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The chase went south onto Interstate 44 and into Cotton County before Cotton County Sheriff’s Office used spike strips to disable the vehicle allowing the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to use a tactical maneuver and end the pursuit north of the Randlett exit, according to affidavit.

Lane is held on $1 million bond for his first-degree murder case and another $150,000 for the eluding charges. He is scheduled to go to trial on Feb. 7.

On Jan. 18, 2023, Lawton police were called to the Executive Inn, 3134 Cache Road, regarding an unresponsive person. The unidentified person was taken to a local hospital with “life-threatening injuries” and later died, according to the Lawton Police Department.

The person was not identified by police and no charges have been field.

Joe E. Sawyer Jr. would be Lawton’s third homicide death after he was found shot to death Jan. 24, 2023.

Johnny Clifton Taylor, 61, of Lawton, has been charged with first-degree murder — deliberate intent, and possession of a firearm after former felony conviction, records indicate.

Taylor admitted to investigators to shooting Sayer in the left chest, killing him in the living room at 1102 NW Birch. Despite EMS efforts, he died on the room’s floor. He said he’d confronted Sawyer about arguing with a woman and claimed Sawyer struck him several times atop the head with brass knuckles before Taylor retrieved a handgun and shot him in the chest.

Held on $500,000 bond, Taylor returns to court at 2 p.m. Feb. 27 for his preliminary hearing.

A hit-and-run wreck on Feb. 21, 2023, left Thomas Watkins dead and Deandre Ramon Daniel, 26, charged with first-degree manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatality accident.

Daniel admitted to police he’d been drinking and driving before hitting the man near Southwest 11th Street and Bishop Road. Watkins was left dead in the roadway, along with parts of Daniel’s car. Daniel also admitted to knowing he’d hit the man before leaving the scene, according to police.

Daniel has been free on $30,000 bond and returns to court at 3 p.m. March 25 for his preliminary hearing, records indicate.

On Feb. 23, 2023, Prophet Williams was shot and killed outside of Ice Tre’s Barber Shop, 2104 W. Gore. Two other people were wounded. No suspect has been identified. Williams’ death was the city’s fifth of the year.

Shakirr Cogdell was shot and killed following an April 2, 2023, incident at the Timbers Apartments, 120 NW 44th. A disturbance in the parking lot led to a confrontation involving Cogdell. After returning to his apartment, gunfire erupted and he was struck and died from his wounds. Two men were charged in the case

Fernando O’Neil Devin Daniels, 28, of Lawton, has been charged with felony counts of second-degree murder or, in the alternative, murder in the second-degree – felony murder, shooting into a dwelling, conspiracy to use a vehicle to fire a gun and possession of a firearm after former felony convictions, records indicate.

Daniels is held on $1 million bond.

Corey Dion Schexnayder Jr., 21, was also charged with felony counts of first-degree murder – deliberate intent or, in the alternative, first-degree murder – felony murder, as well as two charges he’d been wanted for since April 20: shooting into a dwelling, and conspiracy to commit felony discharging a firearm into a dwelling, records indicate.

Also held on $1 million bond, Schexnayder returns to court at 1 p.m. May 13 for his preliminary hearing conference.

On April 9, 2023, the discovery of Clayton Stephens’ body suffering a gunshot wound to the face on Southwest Coombs Road near 38th Street would be the city’s seventh homicide investigation.

Tawann Dupree Richardson, a.k.a. Pooh Butt, 24, was charged with felony counts of first-degree murder — deliberate intent, unlawful removal of a dead body and possession of a firearm after former felony conviction.

Through interviews, investigators learned Stephens and Richardson had been in a sexual relationship and believed the possibility of its exposure led to the shooting.

Richardson is held on $1 million bond.

The city’s eighth homicide was discovered after the May 17, 2023, discovery of Karen “Dinkers” Connywerdy Smith’s body at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The 68-year-old Lawtonian was a member of the Comanche Nation.

Investigators learned Connywerdy had been beaten with a brick and killed at her Lawton home before her body was transported and dumped. Her home was on a tribal allotment putting the case under federal authority.

Tevin Terrell Semien, 29, was charged in the U.S. Western District Court with one count of first-degree premeditated murder, one alternative count of second-degree murder, and one count of illegally possessing a firearm after a previous felony conviction, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

Connywerdy’s relative, Makayla Nicole Leigh Logsdon, 24, was also charged with one count of accessory after the fact to murder.

The pair were arraigned in November 2023.

The city’s ninth homicide occurred May 26 when Annie Porche was struck and killed while walking northbound near Northwest 64th Street and Cache Road.

The driver, identified by police as Derrick Lamont Harkless, fled the scene but was later found and detained by officers. Harkless told police he thought he’d hit a shopping cart, according to the probable cause affidavit. Porche was walking with assistance of a walker. Investigators determined he’d been driving under the influence.

Harkless, 47, of Lawton, was charged with first-degree manslaughter. He has been free on $50,000 bond.

A shooting on June 25 left Keelin Kennedy, 18, dead at 4033 NW Ozmun and Lawton police investigating the city’s 10th homicide. The suspect, Henry Pohawpatchoko, 20, told police he’d been “messing with a gun” before, witnesses said, he pointed it at Kennedy and pulled the trigger.

Pohawpatchoko, of Cache, was charged with second-degree murder and is held on $300,000 bond.

Lawton’s 11th homicide came Sept. 4, 2023, when John Velas, 61, was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds near the walking track of Elmer Thomas Park.

Although no suspect has been publicly identified by police, his estranged wife, Susen Adell Hunter, 57, of Lawton, was charged with a felony count of soliciting for first-degree murder. However, that charge was from a prior incident.

Velas had spoken with a detective on Aug. 31, 2023, regarding a claim Hunter had solicited another man to kill him. He told police the man told him on Aug. 15, 2023, she’d tried to hire him repeatedly to kill her husband. Velas video recorded the man’s statements and turned it over to police.

Hunter, who has been free on $50,000 bond, returns to court at 1:30 p.m. May 15 for her preliminary hearing for the solicitation charge.

Anthony Montoya was killed Oct. 6 following an argument that began with a ride taken from a local casino. Following an argument about seating a vehicle, police said, Timothy David Carpenter is accused of shooting Montoyo in front of the office building of an apartment complex at 2235 NW Hoover.

Carpenter, 21, of Geronimo, was charged with felony counts of first-degree murder – deliberate intent and possession of a firearm after former felony convictions. His preliminary hearing conference was set for Jan. 16.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is investigating four deaths in three months at the Comanche County Detention Center.

The Bureau was asked to begin an investigation the Oct. 26, 2023, death of inmate Keith Bradley. Few other details are available regarding how he was found.

Bradley’s body was taken to the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s office in Oklahoma City for autopsy and to determine cause of death. No charges have been filed at this point.

The OSBI was requested to investigate two deaths at the detention center from Aug. 23 and 24, 2023.

Those deaths remain under investigation and more information will be released when available, according to the OSBI.

Charges were filed in another death.

Calvin Lykell Christopher Riss, 25; Edward Rendardo Brown, 50; and Markie Montrell Ishman, 32; all of Lawton, are accused of taking Matthew Jones, 30, into a cell in the jail on Aug. 16, 2023, where he was beaten to death. According to the probable cause affidavit, Jones suffered several hemorrhages and hematomas.

The three were each charged with a felony count of first-degree manslaughter and return to court at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 26 for their preliminary hearing, records indicate.

An unidentified inmate at the Lawton Correctional Facility was killed from an inmate-on-inmate assault on Oct. 25.

The incident remains under investigation by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General Criminal Interdiction Division and no further information is available.

Investigators said 2023’s last local homicide happened Dec. 22, 2023, when Mark Cochran was struck and killed while riding his bicycle near Northwest 50th Street and Cache Road. Vincent Joseph Sayers is accused of being high on fentanyl when he ran over Cochran.

Nearby security video showed Sayers’ van stop at the intersection before accelerating toward Cochran, colliding with him before running him over and leaving the scene.

Sayers, 26, received felony charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a fatality accident, records indicate. Held on $250,000 bond, he returns to court at 3 p.m. Monday for a preliminary hearing conference.