In what is believed to be a tragic case of mistaken identity, 22-year-old Michael Denzel Elix was shot and killed on April 25, 2013, in his Lawton, Oklahoma, apartment. A Black male, Elix had only recently relocated to Lawton from his hometown of Altus, Oklahoma, just two months prior to his murder. He had settled into a new life, living with two friends and working at a local restaurant.
On the day of the incident, Elix was home alone while his roommates were at work.
It is believed that two suspects knocked on his apartment door and shot him as soon as he answered. Authorities found Elix on the floor just inside the open doorway with a gunshot wound to his head. Law enforcement has stated their belief that Elix was not the intended target of his killers, suggesting they shot him without realizing his identity. A neighbor called 911, and though authorities arrived quickly, it was too late to save him. Adding to the family's tragedy, his mother learned of his death through social media.
Witnesses at the apartment complex reported seeing a black, two-door Honda hatchback in the parking lot shortly before the shooting. Three white males were seen exiting the vehicle just moments before the gunshots were heard. Despite these leads, no arrests have been made in the years following the murder, and the investigation remains an ongoing cold case. Both the Lawton Police Department and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation continue to seek information from the public to bring resolution to the case.
Michael, also known as Michael Elix Carter, was born in Dallas, Texas, and later moved to California before his family settled in Altus, where he graduated from high school in 2009. He was remembered as a vibrant and friendly young man who was active in school life and enjoyed playing football. He loved his family and friends, the University of Oklahoma, and the New York Knicks.
