On the night of August 19–20, 2023, a house party in West Tulsa attended by more than 100 teenagers erupted into gunfire shortly before 1:00 a.m. Fifteen-year-old Joshua Saldivar Hernandez, a Hispanic student at East Central High School, was struck in the back while leaving the chaotic scene with friends and was found deceased on the street by responding Tulsa Police officers. A 16-year-old was also wounded in the arm. Reports say a fight between two girls escalated and at least one person began shooting into the crowd of fleeing partygoers.

Joshua’s family remembered him as hardworking, polite and respectful, someone who loved to dance and play soccer and often took labor jobs to help support the family. The Tulsa Police Department Homicide Division opened an investigation and has appealed for any photos, videos or information from the large number of potential witnesses; no suspects have been publicly identified and no arrests have been announced.

If anyone attended that party or has footage or information about who fired into the crowd, please come forward and contact investigators.