In the predawn hours of a Sunday in Oklahoma City, a burst of violence shattered the quiet, leading to the tragic death of 16-year-old Kayden Haywood. A Black male, Haywood was a student at Douglas High School where he was a beloved friend and teammate. Known for his love of sports, he spent countless hours playing basketball, football, and baseball.
On March 9, 2025, at approximately 3:04 AM, police were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 7200 block of NW 122nd Street following
reports of a shooting. While authorities were at the scene investigating, a call came in from the Mercy Women's Center on West Memorial Road, reporting a gunshot victim had been brought to their emergency room by a private vehicle. That victim was Kayden Haywood, who was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The circumstances that led to the shooting remain unclear to investigators. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, which was marked as the city's 11th homicide of 2025, police had not identified any suspects and no arrests had been made. The Oklahoma City Police Department's homicide investigators are actively looking into the case and have urged anyone with information to come forward. In the wake of his death, Oklahoma City Public Schools made crisis counselors available to support students and staff at Douglas High School as they mourned the loss of their classmate.
