Murder suspect behind bars, awaits court appearance

A week after an arrest warrant was issued for the man accused of committing Lawton’s first homicide of the year, he’s behind bars.

Lawton police received a Crime Stoppers tip on Friday that Willie B. “Red” Lindley was at a home in the city. Police arrived to the unidentified home and he surrendered peacefully, according to Sgt. Christopher Blessing, Lawton Police Department information officer.

An arrest warrant was issued in the Comanche County District Court Jan. 5 for Lindley, 59, for felony counts of first-degree murder — deliberate intent and possession of a firearm after former felony convictions, records indicate.

Lindley is accused of shooting Levelle Newton in the head, killing him, on New Year’s Day during the incident at 1618 SW New York.

A witness told investigators Lindley had a gun in his hand and was demanding his lost wallet and money be returned or “everybody was going to die,” the warrant affidavit states. The witness said Lindley went into Newton’s room and demanded his money and when told he didn’t have it, struck Newton in the head with the gun before shooting Newton once and telling others in the home that it was a warning to them before leaving.

Newton’s death was the city’s first homicide of 2024.

Lindley has four prior felony convictions in Comanche County: March 2003, trafficking in illegal drugs; May 2009, two counts of uttering a forged instrument; and February 2020, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, records indicate.

Comanche County Detention Center records show Lindley is behind bars awaiting his initial court appearance. A cash warrant bond was set at $500,000.