MOORE and OKLAHOMA CITY — A violent crime spree that began in the early hours of Saturday, Nov. 22, and stretched from Moore to Oklahoma City left three people dead, plus the suspect, and another person hospitalized after a series of shootings and carjackings.
Moore Police identified the suspect as Deante Hawthorne, 34, who police believe was responsible for a deadly shooting, a suspected carjacking-related death, and multiple crimes across both cities before being killed in a shootout with Oklahoma City Police.
For Oklahoma City, this makes homicide #66 and homicide #67 and police shooting #7 for 2025.
Early morning shooting in Moore
Around 4 a.m. Saturday, Moore Police responded to reports of gunfire at an apartment complex in the 200 block of N. Eastern Avenue. Officers arrived to find two gunshot victims inside one of the units: an 18-year-old woman who was pronounced dead at the scene, and a man who had been shot at least twice. The male victim was taken to a local hospital and was last reported to be in stable condition.
Moore Police Public Information Officer Clint Byley said investigators believe Hawthorne fled the scene before officers arrived. “We launched drones to search the area, but unfortunately didn’t locate him,” Byley said in an interview with Free Press on Monday.
Apparent carjacking and medical death
Just a few hours later, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Moore officers were called to another apartment complex, this one near NE 12th Street and Eastern Avenue. There, a man was found unresponsive in a parking lot and later died at a hospital. Police believe the man suffered a medical episode, possibly in connection with a car theft that occurred at the scene.
“The vehicle stolen from that second apartment complex was later located at a carjacking scene in Oklahoma City,” Byley said. The precise cause of the man’s death remains under investigation, and police have not released his identity pending notification of next of kin.
Violent crimes continue in Oklahoma City
According to Oklahoma City Police, Hawthorne drove the stolen vehicle from Moore to Oklahoma City, where the violence escalated. At approximately 11:55 a.m., he allegedly carjacked another vehicle at gunpoint near NW 11th and May Avenue.
Roughly 30 minutes later, at 12:24 p.m., officers responded to a shooting in the 2100 block of NE 26th Street. The victim, identified as Lenox Richardson, 44, died from his injuries. Investigators linked this homicide to Hawthorne, though a motive remains unclear.
Shortly afterward, officers spotted Hawthorne driving near SE 44th and Eastern. A police pursuit ended when he crashed on I-240 at Eastern Avenue while driving the wrong way. After the crash, police said Hawthorne attempted to carjack multiple motorists at gunpoint. During the chaos, he was struck by two separate vehicles. Despite his injuries, Hawthorne continued the attempted robberies while armed.
At 12:51 p.m., Sgt. Clifford Beloncik, a 10-year veteran of the Oklahoma City Police Department, shot Hawthorne. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigation ongoing
The Moore Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division is working with Oklahoma City Police to fully connect the crimes across jurisdictions. Detectives are continuing to piece together the timeline and seek a motive behind what Byley called “senseless violence.”
“We don’t believe this started out as random,” Byley said, noting the initial shooting involved people who knew each other. “But it does appear that as the day progressed, the violence became more disorganized and spontaneous.”
Authorities have not released the names of the female homicide victim or the male survivor in Moore, citing the ongoing investigation and concerns for the survivor’s safety.
Anyone who was approached by Hawthorne during the attempted carjackings on I-240 is asked to contact the Oklahoma City Police Homicide Tip-Line at 405-297-1200.
OCPD internal investigation begins
The internal investigation into Sgt. Beloncik’s actions now begins as he goes on routine administrative leave.
In police shootings – internally termed “officer-involved shootings” – the officer goes on paid administrative leave while OKCPD investigators gather evidence.
Then, that information is turned over to Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna, who has determined that all officer-involved shootings will go before a grand jury to decide whether to bring charges against the officer.
Once that decision has been made, the internal investigation moves forward after questions about whether the shooting was a crime have been resolved.
This is a developing story. Oklahoma City Free Press will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Brett is the founder, and editor in chief of Oklahoma City Free Press. He continues to contribute reporting and photography to the efforts of the publication as well as leadership in developing support.
