An Oklahoma City man says he pretended to be dead to survive a masked gunman who shot him twice outside his apartment on NW 63rd Street, and police have now arrested a suspect they say had been threatening the victim for months over his willingness to testify in another shooting case. Danny Brown was arrested Aug. 11 on a charge of shooting with intent to kill, according to a police report.
A Ski-Masked Ambush Near NW 63rd Street
Oklahoma City police responded to a shooting report at an apartment complex in the 6300 block of NW 63rd Street at approximately 9:40 a.m. on Aug. 6, as reported by KOKH. The victim, an adult male, told officers he had gone outside to start his vehicle and let it cool off because he was concerned about it being parked outside his apartment. A dark-colored sedan blocked his car, and Brown, wearing a black ski mask, got out and shot at the victim twice, according to the police report cited by the station.
One of the shots struck the victim in the upper left shoulder. He told police he pretended to be dead until the sedan drove away, then ran to a neighbor's apartment to call 911 and check on his infant daughter, who was inside the apartment at the time. He was transported to a nearby hospital, per the police report.
Victim Says He Recognized Voice Behind the Mask
Despite the mask, the victim told police he identified Brown by his voice and body type. He also said he had received a Snapchat message from Brown on the morning of the shooting, and that he had been receiving threats for several months connected to his testimony in a separate shooting case, according to the report described by the same outlet.
The timing of the attack carried an additional detail: the victim said he had contacted his probation officer to schedule a check-in that had been set for around 10 a.m. that same morning, just before the shooting occurred. Danny Brown remains the subject of an ongoing investigation, and no additional charges tied to the alleged threats have been detailed in the report.
What a Shooting With Intent to Kill Charge Carries
Under Oklahoma law, shooting with intent to kill is classified as a violent felony that can carry a sentence of up to life imprisonment, according to Justia Law. The state's 85 Percent Rule further requires that anyone convicted of the offense serve at least 85 percent of an imposed sentence before becoming eligible for parole consideration or sentence-reducing credits.
The months of threats the victim described also point to potential exposure under a separate Oklahoma statute. Willfully using force, fear, or harassment to prevent or alter a witness's testimony is a felony punishable by one to ten years in prison, according to the Wirth Law Office. The dossier does not indicate whether any such charge has been filed against Brown in connection with the alleged threats.
Resources for Crime Victims in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma crime victims can register with OK VINE, a free automated notification service run by the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office that alerts victims if a suspect or inmate is released, transferred, or escapes custody, according to the City of Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma City Police Department also operates a Victim Services Program that helps people affected by crime with safety planning and navigating law enforcement procedures alongside active investigations.
Anyone with information can also contact Oklahoma City Crime Stoppers, which pays cash rewards of up to $1,000 for anonymous tips leading to felony arrests or charges in local investigations. The department patrols nearly 700 square miles across five substations with 1,169 uniformed officers and 300 civilian personnel as of this year.
Part of a Broader Pattern of Local Gun Violence
The NW 63rd Street shooting is one of several recent violent incidents Hoodline has tracked across Oklahoma City in recent months, including a fatal sidewalk shooting outside a Northeast OKC apartment complex earlier this month. Statewide, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation logged 36,165 total crimes against persons in 2025, with aggravated assault making up 17.1 percent, or 6,176 cases, of those offenses. A midyear 2026 report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association found aggravated assaults nationally among participating major law enforcement agencies fell 5.7 percent in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period a year earlier.
