The life of 33-year-old MiKayla Dianne Blackeagle, a Native American woman, came to a tragic end in Lawton, Oklahoma, on April 14, 2024. A proud member of the Kiowa, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, MiKayla was raised by her grandparents in Hog Creek. She was a mother to two daughters, Ariyah Leigh and Jaeda Nicole, and was engaged to be married. After working in the casino industry and at the Comanche Nation smoke shop, she pursued a career in the medical field, working as a surgical scrub
technician and studying for her Certified Nursing Assistant certification. Remembered for her vibrant personality and humor, she was described as a loving mother and fiancée who was full of life and laughter.
In the early morning hours, shortly after 3 a.m., Lawton police responded to a call about a shooting at a residence on Southeast Alta Lane. Officers arrived to find MiKayla on a porch outside the home with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency responders were unable to save her, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her death was recorded as the fifth homicide in Lawton for the year.
A witness at the scene identified the shooter as MiKayla’s 26-year-old brother, Joshua Ray Pedro, who had fled after the shooting. A Comanche County Deputy located and arrested Pedro near the residence a short time later. During an interview with investigators, Pedro admitted to killing his sister. He stated that they had been drinking together when an argument began. He claimed that as he tried to leave, he was either pushed or tripped, which made him angry.
Home surveillance footage captured the deadly escalation. The video reportedly showed the siblings and a friend on the porch, initially having a good time before a fight broke out. When the friend tried to intervene, Pedro pulled out a handgun, loaded it, and shot MiKayla twice before the weapon jammed. The footage showed him clearing the jam, reloading, and continuing to fire at his sister, even after she had fallen. He also pointed the firearm at the friend before walking away. Investigators recovered 13 spent shell casings and one live round from the scene.
Joshua Ray Pedro was charged with first-degree murder and feloniously pointing a firearm. In April 2025, he entered a blind plea, pleading guilty to the murder of MiKayla Blackeagle. As of that month, his sentencing was scheduled for late May 2025.
