On a Saturday afternoon, August 7, 2021, the life of 27-year-old Alyssa Rene Edlund was cut short in a burst of gunfire in Haskell, Oklahoma. She was in a car with her boyfriend near North Seneca Avenue and Elm Street at around 4 p.m. when the shooting occurred. When Haskell police officers arrived at the scene, they found Alyssa on the street next to the vehicle, having sustained at least two bullet wounds.
Though conscious and able to speak when help first arrived, her condition was critical, and she did not survive her injuries. Her boyfriend, who was with her in the car, was not harmed.
Investigators at the scene discovered shell casings from two different types of firearms, suggesting the possibility of more than one shooter. It was unclear to authorities whether the shots were fired from another vehicle or by individuals on foot. The complexity of the case prompted the local police department to request assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to lead the homicide investigation. Authorities believe Alyssa and her boyfriend were in Haskell because he was from the area.
The investigation into the young woman's death led to a breakthrough several months later. On October 20, 2021, the OSBI arrested 21-year-old Braulio Becerra Lopez in Tulsa County, charging him with first-degree murder. Authorities identified Lopez as one of three suspects allegedly involved in the fatal shooting. The investigation revealed that two vehicles were in the vicinity at the time of the incident: a black Chrysler 300 registered to Lopez and a silver Chrysler 200, which was also recovered.
Following the arrest of Lopez, the OSBI announced that they were actively searching for two other suspects who they believed were no longer in the Haskell area. While one step towards justice was taken with the apprehension of Lopez, the search for the remaining individuals connected to the death of Alyssa Edlund continued. Her family, while grieving the profound loss of a woman described as independent and strong-willed, expressed hope that all those responsible would be brought to justice.
