An Oklahoma City mother says a routine wait in her parked car at Devon Park turned into a frightening encounter last Saturday when a man allegedly tried to carjack her. She says she managed to get away unharmed and has since reported the incident to police, a near-miss that is amplifying long-running worries about safety around the city’s biggest event venues.
Candace Williams told News 9 that the man tried to steal her vehicle while she was sitting inside it at the Devon Ballpark complex and that her daughters were not in the car at the time. Williams recalled thinking, “I just feel in my gut that something's not right,” and said she now urges others to lock their doors and stay alert in parking lots. She also filed a report with the Oklahoma City Police Department after the incident.
Devon Park's profile and Olympic spotlight
Devon Park is the four-field softball complex that hosts the Women’s College World Series and the National Softball Hall of Fame, and it is scheduled to serve as the softball venue for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, according to USA Softball. The stadium complex at 2801 NE 50th Street pulls in sizeable crowds for national tournaments and has recently undergone renovations to increase seating and media capacity. With that higher profile, city planners and venue operators are paying closer attention to event security as international competition looms.
Police and park response
Williams told reporters she filed a police report and that the Oklahoma City Police Department is investigating, according to News 9. The station reported that it requested security footage from Devon Park and had not received a response from park officials at the time of its story. Williams also said park staff told her that security is “top of mind” and that they are evaluating measures ahead of the Olympic-related events expected to bring even larger crowds.
How locals can protect themselves
The scare tracks with broader warnings from local law enforcement about basic car safety, including locking vehicles and removing valuables. Earlier this year, officers cautioned that dozens of firearms and other items had been stolen from unlocked vehicles, as reported in a story on 24 guns stolen from vehicles. Williams says she hopes her experience will push others to take simple steps such as locking doors, keeping children secured, and reporting suspicious behavior to authorities. Police are asking anyone with information about the Devon Park incident to contact the Oklahoma City Police Department.
