Tulsa Man Found Lying In Doorway Dies Of Gunshot Wound

A 28-year-old Tulsa man was shot and killed early Sunday at the Western Pines apartment complex, 2409 South Maybelle Avenue. Police said Brad Djuan Lyles was pronounced dead at a Tulsa hospital at 2:38 a.m.

TPD homicide Sgt. Dave Walker said it appeared the shooter had "ambushed" Lyles, who was visiting his family, including a twin brother, at the time of his death.

Police don't know the motive in the shooting or if Lyles was the intended victim or a case of mistaken identity, Walker said.

"They found him shot and lying in his doorway there," Sgt. Doug Brown said earlier Sunday. "He'd been shot in the abdomen."

Brad Lyles' family huddled together just feet from the doorstep where the 28-year-old was shot a few hours earlier.

"I broke this morning, because I just buried my husband yesterday," aunt Deborah Markham said.

The family says around 2 a.m., Lyles' twin heard several gun shots outside his apartment, followed by a loud banging on the door.

He opened the door to find his brother shot.

"His twin brother says do you know who killed you? He couldn't speak," T.T. Lyles said.

TPD Sgt. Dave Walker said the people in the apartment complex aren't helping much.

"I do know there are people out there that saw it, and do know what's going on," Walker said.

He said getting information early on is crucial and greatly increases the chances of catching the killer.

"We understand they don't want to get involved, but how are they going to know they're not the next one," Walker said.

"Somebody out here knows something," T.T. Lyles said. "I just think they are afraid to come forward."

Court records show Brad Lyles had run-ins with the law.

He was convicted in 2001 of drug trafficking and obstructing an officer two years later.

"Somebody was either waiting on him, it could have been mistaken identity, it could have been anything at this point," Walker said.

The family says Brad Lyles began turning his life following the death of his mother three years ago.

"He wasn't [doing] anymore street drugs, he had stopped all of that. He wasn't doing any of that," Markham said. "He was a good person, not saying that because he was my nephew."

They say in recent years Lyle's had settled down, and he was a loving father to the five children he now leaves behind.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS or the Homicide Tip Line at 918-798-8477.