On New Year’s Day 2023, 22-year-old Daniel Howard was shot and killed outside the Sunset Patio Lounge in Oklahoma City. Howard, a Black man and a former Millwood High School standout who played on two state championship teams, was back home from Fort Hays State University, where he played defensive back and was majoring in Sociology. Witnesses and police say a dispute that may have started over a spilled drink inside the crowded lounge moved into the parking lot after midnight and gunfire erupted. Five people were struck; four were injured and Howard was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation identified multiple suspects and led to arrests. Court proceedings around the case have been emotional, with family and courtroom tensions evident as the legal process unfolds. Howard is remembered as a son, a father, and a teammate whose professional prospects were cut short.

If anyone was at the Sunset Patio Lounge that night or has information about the shooting, please come forward and share what you know.