On the afternoon of December 12, 2025, a violent confrontation unfolded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, claiming the life of 52-year-old Black male Deshawn Crawford. Police officers were dispatched to the 2400 block of South Agnew Avenue around 4:55 p.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon arriving at the scene, first responders discovered Crawford unresponsive and suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. Despite emergency efforts, he was pronounced dead at the location, marking the city's 73rd homicide of the year.
Detectives from the Oklahoma City Police Department immediately launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. Witness accounts and evidence collected at the scene indicated that Crawford had been involved in a heated verbal altercation with another individual just moments before the violence erupted. The dispute escalated rapidly, culminating in the suspect drawing a weapon and firing upon Crawford. The nature of the argument was not immediately disclosed, but investigators determined it was an isolated incident between two parties who were acquainted with one another.
Authorities quickly identified 51-year-old Mandell Colbert as the primary suspect in the slaying. Colbert was apprehended at the scene without further incident and taken into custody for questioning. Following the interrogation, he was transported to the Oklahoma County Detention Center and booked shortly after midnight on December 13. Colbert faces charges of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction. A judge subsequently set his bond at $10 million, and he remained detained pending further legal proceedings.
