OKC’s first homicide of 2025 hits close to home for longtime family friend
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Police have identified a man who died Saturday after a shooting in southwest Oklahoma City. The crime also marks the city’s first homicide of the year. It was a very sad reality for a friend of the victim and his family, who were shocked by the news.
"Be thankful when you wake up every morning,” Corey “Scissorhands” Sutter said. “Tell a lot of people that you know, that you really care about, you love them because you never know that could be your last time you ever speaking to them."
That statement hit close to home for Sutter on Monday.
"I didn't see that coming,” he said.
The crime scene near SW 44th Street and County Line Road Saturday marked Oklahoma City’s first homicide of the year. Oklahoma City police said on scene that they were called there for a shooting at a large gathering.
"Two individuals evidently got into some sort of altercation,” Sgt. Rob Robertson with the Oklahoma City Police Dept. said. “One of them produced a firearm and shot the other one."
The victim, 41-year-old Shawn Lawrence, died on scene. It’s a sad reality for Sutter, who’s a friend of Lawrence and his family. He said he got to know them while working at a barbershop in Del City about 30 years ago.
"I've been known him since he was a kid,” Sutter said. "His mom would come get her hair done."
As he moved around over the years, he kept in touch with the family through social media. Sutter said Lawrence’s young son died about a year and a half ago. So, Sutter hosted a cookout for them to help raise their spirits.
"We were in the backyard and we just really started chopping up and just talking about old times and current times and everything,” he said.
That would be the last time he saw Lawrence. Sutter said before all the crime scene tape from Saturday, Lawrence also lost his mom. Sutter sent his condolences for what he said is an obviously devastating time for that family.
"My heart and prayers to the family because they're a great family,” he said.
A report from police released Monday said the shooter and everyone else involved were “interviewed and released.” The case is set to go before the Canadian County District Attorney’s office for review and to decide on any future charges.