Oklahoma
OKC metro community prepares for funeral services for OHP trooper Vernon Brake
Family, friends and fellow Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers will gather in Oklahoma City on Tuesday to honor trooper Vernon Brake, who died in a vehicle crash earlier this month.
Brake served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for nearly two decades and was widely respected as a mentor and leader. Those who knew him described him as a devoted husband and father of two who was deeply involved in his family and community.
Three people, including child and OHP trooper, killed in I-35 crash.
Funeral services for Brake are scheduled for 11 a.m. at Crossings Community Church. The service will include a procession and full honors, including a 21-gun salute.
The crash that killed Brake also claimed the lives of 36-year-old Mercedes Bayne and her 4-year-old daughter, Ariana. Authorities said the fatal incident occurred after Bayne’s vehicle lost control for an unknown reason and crossed the center cable barrier, striking Brake’s vehicle.
36-year-old Mercedes Bayne, who was killed in an I-35 crash along with her 4-year-old daughter, is remembered as a devoted and joyful mother.
A separate tribute ride was held Monday night in honor of Bayne and her daughter. Family members said Mercedes and Ariana will be remembered as the community continues to mourn all three lives lost in the crash.
Friends and family gathered in Oklahoma City for a ride-out and balloon release honoring a mother and her four-year-old daughter killed in a crash on I-35.
Oklahoma
Suspect arrested in deadly party shooting by Oklahoma lake
Edmond Police Department says no fatalities from Arcadia Lake shooting
Sergeant James Hamm with the Edmond Police Department said there were zero fatalities out of the 23 confirmed individuals injured in a shooting at Arcadia Lake on Sunday.
EDMOND, OK − An 18-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday, May 6, in connection with a mass shooting that left one woman dead and 22 others injured at an “unsanctioned party” by an Oklahoma lake, police said.
Jaylan Davis, of Oklahoma City, was arrested on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon in response to the shooting, according to police. Gunfire erupted during a nighttime party on May 3 at Arcadia Lake near the Scissortail Campground in Edmond, a suburb of north Oklahoma City.
During a news conference on May 6, Edmond Police Chief J.D. Younger said the initial charge against Davis was in the process of being upgraded to felony murder after an 18-year-old woman died from injuries sustained during the shooting. Police identified her as Avianna Smith-Gray.
Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna confirmed in a news release that Davis will be charged with felony murder in the first degree over the shooting death “at the unsanctioned gathering.” His bond had been set at $1 million on a complaint of assault and battery with a deadly weapon.
Investigators believe the incident began with a “disturbance” between two people attending the gathering and escalated into an altercation between rival gang members, Younger said. Authorities also believe that there is at least one more suspect in the shooting.
“During the altercation, multiple subjects produced firearms and discharged in excess of 80 rounds, striking numerous individuals,” Younger said at the news conference.
What happened in the Oklahoma party shooting?
The shooting took place shortly after 9 p.m. local time on May 3 at Arcadia Lake, according to police. Officers were already responding to an 8:51 p.m. call on May 3 of loud music at a party at the lake when the shooting occurred, Younger said.
A total of 23 victims had gunfire-related injuries, including six “juveniles as young as 15 years of age,” according to the police chief.
Police previously said the incident occurred during an “unsanctioned party that began after dark and was advertised across multiple social media platforms, drawing a large crowd of young adults from across the metro area.” The party was not a permitted or reserved gathering, according to police.
Authorities had received multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired and responding officers located multiple people with injuries “ranging in severity,” police previously reported.
A person of interest in the shooting told investigators that Davis was “the primary aggressor,” a police detective said in an arrest affidavit. The person of interest said Davis was a member of the North Highland Piru gang and had recently gotten into a fight with “a known member of Hoover,” according to the affidavit.
The person “advised that this fight caused havoc between Jaylan and the Hoover gang members in Oklahoma City,” the affidavit states. The person also said a shooting victim, Daviion Wyckoff, told him in a phone call that Davis, also known as 3zzy, “arrived at the party and started shooting,” according to the affidavit.
Police previously identified suspect in shooting as member of a gang
In a May 4 search of the suspect’s home, police found ammunition that was the same brand as spent casings recovered from the crime scene, according to the affidavit. His mother said he had left on May 3 to attend a party at Lake Hefner with two of his friends, the affidavit states.
Davis has been arrested before, including after drive-by shootings in Oklahoma City in 2023 and 2024, court records show. Oklahoma City police described him in a 2024 court affidavit as a member of the North Highland Park Blood gang.
He has been prosecuted in Oklahoma County District Court both as a juvenile and as a youthful offender, the court records show. A March 27 “treatment and service plan” filed in court called for him to “explore positive alternatives to living a gang lifestyle.”
He turned himself in on the morning of May 6 to the U.S. Marshals Service, officials said. He was taken to the Edmond Police Department and was arrested.
Victim remembered as a ‘loving’ and ‘caring’ person
Police had confirmed on May 5 that “an 18-year-old young woman has passed away from injuries sustained in the Arcadia Lake shooting.” The chief medical examiner confirmed her body was being examined on May 6.
“Our thoughts are with her loved ones, as well as all those affected by this tragic incident,” police said in a statement on Facebook.
The victim was identified by police and on a GoFundMe page as Smith-Gray. On the GoFundMe page, Smith-Gray’s sister described her as a “loving” and “caring” person.
“She was good with kids doesn’t matter the age they all just happen to love her, she loved to dance, do hair, sing & so much more,” the online fundraiser states. “My sister was so talented a very good athlete and she was so so smart.”
“Avianna was so full of life and loved spending time with her family, friends, her boyfriend,” Smith-Gray’s sister wrote on the GoFundMe page. “She was 18 years old, just graduated and was waiting to walk that stage!”
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners offer speedy wide receiver in 2027 recruiting cycle
The Oklahoma Sooners look to build upon the best recruiting class they’ve had in the Brent Venables era with another offer in the 2027 recruiting class. This time, the Sooners join the pursuit for three-star wide receiver Taurean Rawlins.
Rawlins, out of Sandy Springs, a suburb of Atlanta, has seen his recruitment take off this offseason, in particular in the last month. He received his first offer from Boise State in January and, in the last couple of weeks, has received offers from Florida State, Miami, Nebraska, Ohio State, Georgia, and now Oklahoma. He’s also received offers from South Carolina, Mississippi State, Kansas, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, and West Virginia.
Currently ranked No. 475 in the On3 Industry Rankings, Rawlins is likely to see a rise in the rankings over the next six months ahead of the early signing period.
Rawlins has elite speed and can create big plays every time he touches the ball. He’s a good route runner with excellent hands. He fights through tackles to gain yards after the catch. He’s a shifty player who is able to make players miss in the open field.
The Oklahoma Sooners have three wide receivers committed in the 2027 class: Demare Dezeurn, Greydon Howell, and Tra’von Hall. But Rawlins has a chance to finish the recruiting cycle among the best wide receivers in the class if his trajectory continues.
Taurean Rawlins Recruiting Profile
Vitals
| Projected Position | Wide Receiver |
| Height | 6-0 |
| Weight | 175 pounds |
| Hometown | Sandy Springs, Ga. |
Ratings
| Site | Stars | Overall | Position | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESPN | 3 | — | 49 | 41 |
| 247Sports | 3 | — | 53 | 47 |
| 247Sports Composite | 3 | 475 | 58 | 53 |
| Rivals | 3 | — | 66 | 69 |
| Rivals Industry | 3 | 445 | 63 | 46 |
Social Media
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
Oklahoma
Federal marijuana changes could impact how Oklahoma dispensaries operate
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — New federal marijuana changes are beginning to reshape parts of the cannabis industry — including how some Oklahoma dispensaries may choose to operate.
The federal government recently moved marijuana into a less restrictive category under federal law. The Drug Enforcement Administration is now opening the door for dispensaries to register under federal rules.
Experts say that could eventually bring benefits like expanded banking access and potential tax relief for some businesses.
“Currently there’s over 425,000 people working in the cannabis industry nationwide,” said Max Simon. “As we get federal reform, you will start to see more opportunity for these businesses to expand in a more meaningful national way.”
For now, dispensaries can still remain state-only, and legal experts say many businesses are still weighing what makes the most sense.
“There were far fewer fortunes made than there were fortunes lost in this industry in Oklahoma,” said Eric Fisher. “I think this will maintain jobs in the industry right now.”
The changes also come as schools like Tulsa Community College have started training students for cannabis-related careers — highlighting how quickly the industry continues to evolve.
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