On a tragic Sunday afternoon in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the life of Billy Ray Ryder, a 41-year-old male, was brought to a violent and premature end. It was October 5, 2008, and just after noon, Ryder was at his home in the Candy Arms Apartments when two unidentified men attempted to force their way inside. The intruders were demanding money, but Ryder resisted in an effort to defend himself and his home.
In the ensuing struggle, he was shot.
Emergency services were called, and Ryder was rushed to a nearby hospital, but the severity of his injuries proved to be fatal. He was a father, a brother, and a son, who worked in the heating and air conditioning installation and repair industry. His death left a void in the lives of his family and friends, and a community searching for answers.
The two suspects, described as African American males of medium build, both clad in black hoodies and black jeans, fled the scene of the crime. They were witnessed making their getaway in a newer model, silver-colored Nissan Maxima or Altima. Despite these leads, the individuals responsible for Billy Ray Ryder's death have never been apprehended. His case remains an unsolved homicide, a cold case with the Tulsa Police Department, leaving a family still waiting for justice to be served.
