On the evening of June 14, 2012, a sense of unease settled over the Windsor Village Apartments in northwest Oklahoma City. The relative quiet was shattered around 9:45 p.m. by the sound of multiple gunshots, a violent interruption that would end the life of 16-year-old Khaleeq Landon. Residents who cautiously emerged from their homes found the young African American male lying in the parking lot, suffering from a gunshot wound to his stomach.
One witness recounted seeing the teenager struggle to his feet, moaning in pain, before collapsing again. Emergency services were called, and he was rushed to OU Medical Center, but his injury proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.
In the immediate aftermath, the Oklahoma City police began their investigation, piecing together the events that led to the fatal shooting. Initially, they had no suspects and had not determined a motive for the crime. Whispers among acquaintances suggested the possibility of gang affiliations, and it was noted that Landon had a history of non-violent felony arrests. As investigators delved deeper, a name surfaced. Witnesses reported seeing a man shoot Landon before quickly fleeing the scene. This information led authorities to identify 20-year-old Deante James Hawthorne as the primary suspect.
A first-degree murder warrant was issued for Hawthorne, who was described as being 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing approximately 200 pounds, with several distinctive tattoos. The search for Hawthorne extended beyond Oklahoma, and on June 24, 2012, U.S. Marshals located and apprehended him in Ozark, Alabama. He was subsequently extradited back to Oklahoma to face the charges against him. On July 3, 2012, the Oklahoma County District Attorney's office formally charged Deante James Hawthorne with first-degree murder. The case against him was built on witness testimony, including that of a man named Gregory Martin, who was present during the shooting. Although Martin initially agreed to testify, he later refused to cooperate, creating a challenge for the prosecution.
