Authorities in Oklahoma have taken an 18-year-old man into custody following a devastating mass shooting at a lakeside party that resulted in one death and left 22 others wounded.
Edmond law enforcement officials announced Wednesday that Jaylan A. Davis faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon stemming from the violence that broke out Sunday evening at Arcadia Lake in the Oklahoma City suburb.
During a press briefing, Edmond Police Chief J.D. Younger revealed that prosecutors plan to elevate the charges against Davis to felony murder after 18-year-old Avianna Smith-Gray succumbed to her gunshot wounds.
Davis, an Oklahoma City resident, remains detained at the Edmond jail with bail set at $1 million. Court records show no attorney has been assigned to represent him yet, as the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office stated they will wait until formal upgraded charges are submitted.
According to Chief Younger, investigators determined the violence began when two women at the event got into a dispute, which then spiraled into a confrontation involving opposing gang factions. The police chief indicated authorities believe additional suspects remain at large.
Beyond the fatal victim, the chaos left others suffering from bullet and shrapnel injuries as numerous gunshots rang out at the recreational area located roughly 20 miles north of central Oklahoma City. Six minors were among the wounded, with some victims as young as 15 years old, Younger noted.
The suspect voluntarily surrendered Wednesday morning after investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest, the chief explained.
“We’re trying to find justice for 23 people that were shot, one that’s deceased and even the people that were involved. I think it’s important not to demonize or separate the parties here,” Younger said.
The chief also disclosed that several individuals fired weapons during the incident, with investigators recovering evidence of more than 80 rounds discharged.
Smith-Gray’s relatives described her as a high school senior eagerly anticipating graduation on a memorial fundraising page. Her family remembered her passion for dancing, singing, and styling hair, while her sisters praised her as an intelligent, caring person who was wonderful with children and “so full of life.”
The gathering had been widely advertised on social media platforms, drawing a substantial crowd of primarily young adults from throughout the Oklahoma City region to a pavilion area near the water. The gunfire broke out while officers were already en route to address noise complaints about the event.
Officials emphasized that event organizers had failed to obtain proper permits required for such a large gathering.
