Noah Ney, the Tulsa teenager convicted in a 2022 drive-by shooting that left a 5-year-old girl seriously injured, has reappeared in viral prison clips that seem to show him flashing gang signs, rapping and smoking behind bars. The videos, which started making the rounds online this week, have kicked up fresh debate about prison security and could complicate Ney’s bid for a judicial review scheduled for 2028.
Sentenced as an adult
On October 23, 2023, a Tulsa County judge sentenced Ney to more than 50 years in prison after a jury convicted him on multiple felony counts tied to an April 2022 drive-by that hit the child. Prosecutors described the shooting as a gang initiation and, at sentencing, laid out a series of weapons, drug and theft charges, according to Law&Crime.
Clips circulate online
New clips circulating on social media this week show a young man who appears to be Ney in a correctional setting, throwing gang signs, rapping and blowing out smoke. The posts were flagged by outlets including HypeFresh and IndiaTimes, which report that the footage has reignited questions about security and rehabilitation inside adult prisons.
Prosecutors point to detention record
Tulsa County prosecutors have repeatedly highlighted Ney’s behavior while in custody, including an August 2023 escape from the county juvenile facility and what they described as a lengthy history of misconduct reports, when arguing against leniency. Local coverage of the escape and broader detention issues is detailed by KJRH, while court reporting summarized by Law&Crime outlines the records prosecutors presented to the judge.
Legal stakes and the 2028 review
The sentencing judge included a judicial review clause that will allow Ney to ask for a reduced term in 2028 if he can convince the court he has been rehabilitated, according to News On 6. Prosecutors told HypeFresh and other outlets that they see the new clips, which they say were recorded and shared using contraband phones, as evidence Ney is still tied to gang culture and not meaningfully remorseful.
The 5-year-old victim survived but suffered serious wounds to her neck and shoulder, and neighbors and advocates told local media the lengthy sentence reflected broader public-safety concerns, according to reporting by KRMG. As the 2028 review date creeps closer, prosecutors, prison officials and the public will be watching to see whether the online videos are authenticated and how they might factor into any push for a shorter sentence.
