In the early hours of October 7, 2020, a domestic disturbance in Tulsa, Oklahoma, escalated into a tragic act of violence that claimed the lives of 32-year-old Chantel Anisha Dean and her 16-year-old niece, Na'Veha Alexander. Dean, a Black female and devoted mother of three, was shot and killed by her boyfriend, Howard Peeples, in a devastating incident of domestic violence.
Police were dispatched to a residence near Pine and Peoria after receiving a call about a possible disturbance
shortly after 4 a.m. Inside the home, they discovered the bodies of Chantel Dean and her niece, along with several children who were physically unharmed. The initial call to 911 was made by one of the children in the house. Family members at the scene identified the victims and named Peeples as Dean's boyfriend.
Within hours, authorities located and arrested Howard Peeples not far from the scene of the crime. He was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. The investigation revealed a history of relationship issues between Peeples and Dean that culminated in the fatal shooting.
The case proceeded to trial, where a jury found Howard Peeples guilty of the murders of both Chantel Dean and Na'Veha Alexander. Following the guilty verdict, the jury recommended a sentence of life in prison for Peeples. The community and family were left to mourn the profound loss, with Chantel's father taking on the responsibility of raising her three children.
