Oklahoma's Biggest Headlines During The 1st Half Of 2020 Outside Of The COVID-19 Pandemic

From chaos at Penn Square Mall, to tragedy in Moore and remembering our city’s most solemn day, the non-COVID-19 news in 2020 continued to impact our lives.

On Jan. 18, Oklahoma City police responded to a shots fired call on a crowded Saturday night at Penn Square Mall.

No one was hit by gunfire as an off-duty sheriff’s deputy chased a suspect out of the mall. Eleven days later, 22-year-old Darrell Fletcher was arrested in connection with the shooting. He is still awaiting trial.

On Feb. 3, a driver hit seven Moore High School cross country students running on the sidewalk. The driver is accused of being drunk during the incident.

Police said more than 50 students and staff witnessed the aftermath. In the months that followed, the community came together to remember Rachel Freeman, Kolby Crum and Yuridia Martinez.

Max Townsend was charged with three counts of second-degree murder and eight charges for leaving the scene. He is awaiting trial in the Cleveland County jail.

On Feb. 28, students at the University of Oklahoma took over the school’s administration building and remained there for three days. The protest ended after students and the administration agreed on equity training, additional counseling resources and to work toward creating a multicultural center.  

April 19, 2020 marked 25 years since Oklahoma City was shaken to its core. In a year changed by COVID-19, the memorial and museum honored the 168 Oklahomans killed in an hour long virtual ceremony aired across the city. 

News 9 will look back at events that shaped the second half of 2020 later this week.