On July 20, 2023, David Lynn Howard, a 43-year-old electrician from Mustang, Oklahoma, was fatally shot in the backyard of a residence near Fritch, Texas. The incident occurred at a home on County Line Road in Carson County, where Howard was visiting his stepson, 22-year-old Tayber Joe Michael. Law enforcement officials reported that Howard died from a gunshot wound inflicted by a rifle.
Following the shooting, Michael fled the scene, prompting a two-hour manhunt by local authorities.
He was apprehended and arrested on the same day. Michael was charged with first-degree felony murder in connection with his stepfather's death.
In December 2023, Michael pleaded guilty to the murder charge and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The sentencing was reported by the Office of the 100th District Attorney, Luke Inman.
David Howard is survived by his wife, Candace Cox; their two children, Haven and Hailey; his father, Dennis Earl Howard; and other family members. He was predeceased by his mother, Deborah Kay Morrow Howard, and his grandparents, Clara Merle Howard and Hubert "Doc" Howard.
The tragic event has left the Howard family and the community of Fritch mourning the loss of a beloved husband, father, and friend.
