On June 20, 2015, a violent confrontation in Elkhart, Indiana, claimed the life of 38-year-old Black male Tommie Lee Strowder. The incident began earlier that day when an acquaintance, Leon Howard Tyson, arrived at a residence on West Marion Street. Tyson, reportedly angered by the belief that Strowder had stolen property from him, allegedly brandished a firearm and held Strowder and a woman at gunpoint.
The situation escalated as Tyson demanded the return of a specific handgun or a payment of $300 in exchange for their release.
In an attempt to resolve the standoff, Strowder was allowed to make a phone call to arrange for the money. After the call, he attempted to flee the apartment, declaring that Tyson would not kill him. As Strowder ran from the residence, Tyson opened fire, striking him in the torso. Police officers responded to the scene near the intersection of South Fifth and Marion Streets around 3:30 p.m., where they discovered Strowder lying behind the property with critical injuries. He was transported to a local hospital but was subsequently pronounced dead.
For over a year, investigators worked to locate the suspect. In August 2016, authorities apprehended Leon Tyson and charged him with murder and criminal confinement. During the legal proceedings, details emerged regarding the dispute over the stolen firearm which Tyson referred to as his 'four-four.' Although Tyson initially expressed a desire to represent himself in court, citing knowledge gained from television legal dramas, he eventually accepted representation by a public defender.
The case went to trial, where a jury deliberated on the charges brought against Tyson. While he was acquitted on the count of criminal confinement, the jury returned a guilty verdict for the murder of Strowder. In March 2017, the court handed down a sentence of 63 years in prison for the crime. Years later, proceedings regarding the conviction continued, with Tyson filing petitions for post-conviction relief, alleging new evidence pointed to a different shooter. Legal organizations, including the Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic, became involved in reviewing the case claims.
