In March of 2023, a dispute between roommates at a southwest Oklahoma City apartment tragically escalated, resulting in the shooting death of 20-year-old Matthew Conway Harvey. The incident, which occurred on March 16, 2023, stemmed from a disagreement that led to a fatal confrontation. Harvey was a male.
The conflict reportedly began earlier in the week when Harvey's girlfriend, who also lived in the apartment, asked their 48-year-old roommate, Ross Watkins, to move out.
Tensions simmered until a fight broke out between Harvey and Watkins. During the altercation, a gunshot was fired, and Harvey collapsed on the stairs near the second-floor breezeway of the apartment complex. His girlfriend was present in the apartment at the time of the shooting and held him as he took his last breaths.
Following the shooting, law enforcement arrived at the scene. Ross Watkins was arrested, but not on a murder charge. Instead, he was taken into custody on a complaint of illegally possessing a firearm due to a prior felony drug conviction in Kansas, for which he had served 16 months in prison. Investigators noted that the circumstances leading to the shooting were pending further investigation, and the decision on whether to file murder charges against Watkins would be left to the Oklahoma County District Attorney. While police considered the possibility of self-defense, Harvey's girlfriend disputed this, expressing a desire for justice for Matthew.
Born in El Reno on May 20, 2002, Matthew Harvey was remembered as a good son, brother, and friend who was full of ambition. He had a passion for making music, his blue car, and spending time fishing at the lake. His family, including his parents and numerous siblings, were left to mourn the sudden and violent end to his young life.
