Corliss C. Howell, a 64-year-old White man, was a resident of Lawton, Oklahoma. His life was cut short on the evening of Sunday, January 21, 2024, inside the home he shared with two roommates.
That day, Howell and a female roommate had been away from their house in the 1600 block of Southwest E Avenue for most of the afternoon. When they returned, they found their third roommate, Wesley Moore, was intoxicated. According to court documents, an argument soon broke out between Moore and the other two housemates. The three of them were sitting around a round kitchen table when the conflict escalated. Moore stood up, walked out of the room, and returned with a handgun. He pointed the weapon at Howell, who then began to rise from his chair. At that moment, Moore fired a single, fatal shot. As Howell was struck, the female roommate ran from the house to call for help.
Lawton police officers were dispatched to the residence on a report of a shooting.
When they arrived, they found the woman who had fled the scene. She informed them that a man had been shot inside. Officers gave verbal commands for the suspect to exit the home. Moore complied with the orders and was taken into custody without further incident. Inside, police found Corliss Howell, who had died from a gunshot wound.
In the immediate aftermath, authorities booked Moore into jail on a first-degree murder complaint. A few days later, the Lawton Police Department publicly identified the victim as Corliss Howell and confirmed that Wesley Moore was the man formally charged with first-degree murder in his death. Investigators determined that the killing stemmed from the dispute that occurred after Howell and the other roommate found Moore intoxicated.
The case proceeded to a jury trial in November 2024. After hearing the evidence, the jury convicted Wesley Blake Moore of first-degree manslaughter in Howell's death. Jurors recommended that he serve 20 years in prison. Following the verdict, the judge ordered a pre-sentence investigation. As of November 2024, Moore was awaiting his formal sentencing, which was scheduled for early January 2025.
While the legal process moved toward a resolution, those who knew Corliss Howell gathered to honor his memory. A celebration of his life was held on January 27, 2024, at the New Life Assembly of God in Cache, followed by a potluck lunch and his burial in a nearby cemetery.
