In the early morning hours of October 22, 2022, the life of 17-year-old Dmarion Rahmaud Brown was tragically cut short in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A Black / African American male, Dmarion was a student at Central High School, just one year away from graduation. He was known for his love of video games, riding horses, and attending rodeos, and was described as a caring individual who cherished his family and friends.
On that fateful night, Dmarion was walking with a 15-year-old friend near 46th
Street North and Peoria Avenue. At approximately 2 a.m., an unidentified vehicle approached them, and an occupant, or occupants, opened fire. Dmarion was fatally wounded in the drive-by shooting, while his friend sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The Tulsa Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation into what they believed was a targeted act of violence stemming from a gang dispute.
For months, the case remained under investigation with no immediate arrests made, leaving Dmarion's family and the community searching for answers. A significant development occurred in June 2023 when prosecutors charged a woman, Makaya Riggins, in connection with the fatal shooting. Court documents revealed that Riggins was allegedly the driver of the vehicle used in the drive-by. According to investigators, phone records placed her in the vicinity of a party the victims had attended for an hour leading up to the murder.
Further investigation into Riggins's digital communications uncovered text messages sent minutes before the shooting where she allegedly identified herself as the driver and named who she was with. Additionally, social media messages reportedly showed her attempting to sell a gun of the same type used in the homicide just 13 hours after the incident. It was also alleged that Riggins and the two suspected shooters created a rap song about the killing. While Riggins was charged for her alleged role, the two individuals believed to be the shooters remained at large.
