Andre’ Darelle Winslett was a young man known for his effervescent smile, kind heart, and the love he had for his family. Born on April 19, 1987, to Myra Windham and Vernon Johnson, Andre grew up in the church, accepting Christ at an early age and delighting his grandmother by learning and quoting Bible scriptures. He attended Luther Public Schools, where he was an outstanding athlete. Known to his loved ones as "Dre," he was remembered as funny, smart, and loving. His uncle recalled him as a "sometimes rambunctious young man but he had an effervescent smile and a kind heart." Andre, a 30-year-old Black man from Midwest City, was loved by everyone he came into contact with and left behind his parents, brothers, sisters, grandmothers, and his fiancée, Shemaiah Johnson, along with a host of other relatives and friends who were devastated by his sudden loss.
In the first minutes of Friday, June 2, 2017, Andre's life was tragically taken.
Just after 12:30 a.m., residents in a northwest Oklahoma City neighborhood heard the sound of several gunshots. Police were dispatched to the area near NW 83rd Street and Western Avenue following reports of the gunfire. When they arrived at the 1300 block of NW 83rd Street, near North McKinley Avenue, they made a grim discovery. Andre Winslett was found lying in the street, having been shot.
Emergency responders were unable to save him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Residents who had heard the shots told reporters that they had not been able to see what happened, but upon going outside to investigate the noise, they found Andre’s body in the road. The Oklahoma City Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation into the shooting.
Andre’s death was recorded as the 26th homicide in Oklahoma City for 2017. Investigators began the difficult work of piecing together the events that led to his murder, seeking clues and information from a crime scene that offered few initial answers. In the immediate aftermath, police had no suspects and no description of who might have been responsible for the fatal shooting. The motive for the killing was not publicly known.
In the days following Andre's death, his family was left not only with overwhelming grief but also with the unexpected financial burden of a funeral. A GoFundMe campaign was started by a family member to help his mother lay him to rest. The page was filled with loving remembrances, with one family member writing, "Our family will never be the same live in peace...." Another message simply stated, "You were so loved." These tributes painted a picture of a man whose loss created a void that would never be filled.
Years have passed since Andre Winslett was killed, but his case remains unsolved. The Oklahoma City Police Department's investigation is still open, but there has been no public announcement of any arrests or the identification of any persons of interest. For his family and friends, the pain is compounded by the lack of answers and justice. On a memorial page, one message posted long after his death reads, "My heart aches still. I'll never get over losing you." As of July 2024, the investigation into Andre Winslett's murder is ongoing, and authorities continue to seek information from the public that could help solve this case.
