In the winter of 2021, the life of Donza Settles, a 30-year-old Black / African American man, was tragically cut short in what marked the first homicide of the year for Tulsa, Oklahoma. On the evening of January 6th, police responded to a call at the Towne Square Apartments located near Apache and North Peoria. There, in the cold of the parking lot, they found Donza Settles with a gunshot wound. Emergency services were quick to arrive, and he was rushed to a nearby hospital.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the death of Donza Settles began immediately, with the Tulsa Police Department dedicating significant resources to unraveling the events of that fatal evening. Detectives diligently processed the crime scene, gathering evidence and speaking with potential witnesses. A breakthrough in the case came from video surveillance footage obtained from the apartment complex. This crucial piece of evidence allowed investigators to identify a person of interest.
Within a short period, the investigation honed in on a single suspect: 36-year-old Kent Payne. The evidence compiled by the police was substantial enough to issue a warrant for his arrest on the charge of first-degree murder. A bond for Payne was set at one million dollars. The manhunt for Payne did not last long, as he was located, taken into custody, and formally charged with the murder of Donza Settles, bringing a measure of resolution to a community shaken by the violent loss of one of its members.
