In the late hours of a Monday evening in Oklahoma City, the life of David Ray Hinds Jr., a 48-year-old Black male, was tragically cut short. On April 21, 2025, police were dispatched to the Relax Inn on Northeast 23rd Street shortly after 11:00 p.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Hinds in a grassy area on the motel's property. He had sustained what appeared to be fatal gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
This marked the 19th homicide in Oklahoma City for the year.
The investigation into Hinds' death began immediately, with detectives working to piece together the events that led to the shooting. As of the initial reports, the motive behind the incident remained unclear to authorities. Friends and acquaintances of Hinds, who affectionately knew him as 'Cowboy,' expressed their shock and disbelief at the violent end to his life. The area surrounding the motel was known to have issues, with some residents having previously called for the establishment to be declared a public nuisance.
In the days that followed, the Oklahoma City Police Department continued to seek information from the public to help identify who was responsible for this act of violence. Despite their efforts and appeals for witnesses to come forward, no arrests have been made in connection with the homicide. The case remains an active and open investigation, leaving a community and a grieving family searching for answers and awaiting justice for the loss of a man they remember as a plumber and a loved one. His death left behind a spouse, children, and numerous other family members and friends.
