In the spring of 2007, a violent altercation outside an Oklahoma City apartment tragically cut short the life of Mark Duane Clewis. The 41-year-old Black man, known to friends and family as 'Doggie,' was a father who had a love for football. On the evening of either April 19th or April 20th, Clewis was standing and talking with two other people outside his residence at 6219 S. Independence Avenue.
An argument suddenly erupted, escalating into a brutal physical assault.
During the course of the violent encounter, Clewis was pistol-whipped, beaten, and ultimately shot. The severity of his injuries proved fatal, and he died at the scene of the attack. The events of that night prompted an investigation by the Oklahoma City Police Department, as they worked to piece together the circumstances that led to the deadly confrontation and to identify those responsible for Clewis's death.
In the aftermath of the homicide, a primary suspect was identified by law enforcement. An arrest warrant was issued for Fredrick L. Sanders, who was 34 years old at the time, in connection with the shooting death of Mark Clewis. Authorities also believed that Sanders's brother, Marcus L. Sanders, was present during the incident and was himself wanted on multiple felony warrants.
Although a suspect was initially charged with first-degree murder in the case, those charges were later dropped on October 19, 2007. Since that time, no other suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of Mark Clewis. The case has since gone cold, leaving the questions surrounding his violent death unanswered and his killer or killers not yet brought to justice. The Oklahoma City Police Department continues to ask for anyone with information regarding the unsolved murder to come forward.
