Just days before Christmas, a 16-year-old boy in Oklahoma was tragically killed in a stabbing that police say started with an argument.
Ryder Lewis died shortly after midnight on Monday, December 23, in Oklahoma City. Officers arrived at the scene to find Lewis had been stabbed, and despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead right there.
According to police, the person responsible was a 15-year-old boy who allegedly attacked Ryder during the dispute. The suspect was taken into custody and now faces a first-degree murder complaint. He’s being held at a juvenile facility in Cleveland County.
Authorities believe the boys knew each other, and the stabbing is being described as an argument that escalated. This marked the city’s 78th homicide of the year.
In the days following Ryder’s death, the community has rallied around his grieving family. A GoFundMe page was set up to help his parents during this heartbreaking time. “Instead of preparing for Christmas, Ryder’s family is now planning his funeral,” the page reads. “He was a sweet, hardworking kid with a kind heart and a smile that could light up a room. He will be deeply missed.”
Ryder and his father, Jay, were both involved with the Oklahoma National Stockyards, a historic livestock market in the area. In addition to the GoFundMe, BancFirst locations are also accepting donations to support the family.
The Oklahoma National Stockyards shared their grief on Facebook, expressing how devastated they were by Ryder’s sudden death. “This should have been a time of celebration for his family, but instead, they are facing an unimaginable loss,” the post read.
The community is being asked to keep the Lewis family in their thoughts and prayers as they cope with this tragedy.
