It was an ordinary Saturday afternoon for 21‑year‑old Ralead Rex‑Dean—until everything changed. Around 5:30 p.m. on November 15, officers from the Oklahoma City Police Department headed to an emergency call near Southeast 57th Street and Bodine Drive. What they discovered shook the neighborhood: Rex‑Dean, wounded from gunshots, lying in dire condition. Medical teams rushed him to a local hospital, but despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators say the violence erupted amid an attempted robbery. A suspect, identified as 18‑year‑old Christopher Upchurch, allegedly approached Rex‑Dean, attempted the robbery, and then shot him before fleeing the scene. The speed and audacity of the incident left witnesses and residents uneasy, grappling with the suddenness of the violence in what many hope is a safe community.
Later that same evening, police tracked down Upchurch at a southeast Oklahoma City residence and took him into custody without further incident. He was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center, with charges including first‑degree murder and possession of a firearm after adjudication. Meanwhile, homicide detectives continue to comb through evidence as they piece together the events that led to this tragic loss.
Authorities are appealing to the public for help, urging anyone with information about the robbery or shooting to call the Oklahoma City Police’s Homicide Tip‑Line at (405) 297‑1200. Officials stress that your tip can remain anonymous, but your cooperation could make a real difference in securing justice for Rex‑Dean’s family, as investigators review surveillance footage, gather witness statements, and collect forensic evidence.
For the family and friends of Rex‑Dean, the pain is immediate and deep. A promising young life ended in an instant, leaving loved ones with questions, anger and grief. In the neighborhood, the incident has only amplified concerns about rising violence, its ripple effects on families and how communities can better prevent such tragedies. Local leaders emphasize the importance of communal vigilance—reporting suspicious behavior, supporting young people and working alongside law enforcement to keep streets safer.
The responding officers moved quickly at the scene, locking down the area and providing emergency care. Yet, even swift action couldn’t reverse the outcome. In the wake of the shooting, the spotlight shines not just on the legal case, but on the larger conversation around violence, community safety, and how we protect our young people in vulnerable moments.
As the investigation proceeds, the priority remains clear: bring clarity, accountability and closure to this heartbreaking chapter. For Rex‑Dean’s loved ones, for the community that mourns him and for all those seeking to stop the next loss before it happens, the hope now lies in finding justice—and in remembering a life gone far too soon.
