Clinton J. Johnson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
A federal jury in Tulsa has convicted Dylan Ray Alexander, 32, of Bartlesville, on charges of involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Court records show that Alexander was indicted in February 2025, with a superseding indictment following the next month. The case centered around an incident on February 2, 2025, when Bartlesville Police responded to a 911 call reporting an injured man lying in the street. Officers found Kevin Holden suffering from a gunshot wound to his stomach; he was holding keys at the time. Holden was taken to the hospital but died from his injuries.
Witnesses told the court they heard Alexander arguing with another man before hearing a loud “pop.” Alexander reportedly fled after the shooting and discarded the handgun used in the incident. Police recovered both the weapon and Alexander himself the following day.
During police questioning, Alexander claimed self-defense, stating that Holden attacked him with a knife. However, detectives found a box knife folded and locked closed inside Holden’s jeans.
Additional evidence presented at trial revealed that Alexander had prior felony convictions for possessing a controlled substance and assaulting a police officer.
Six eyewitnesses testified for the defense supporting Alexander’s claim of self-defense. Despite this testimony, jurors unanimously rejected his defense and found him guilty of involuntary manslaughter as a lesser included offense to second-degree murder. He was acquitted on one count related to using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. According to authorities, Alexander is a member of the Cherokee Nation and has been released on bond pending sentencing.
The investigation involved several agencies: FBI, Bartlesville Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Nowata County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Dunn and Tara Heign prosecuted the case.
Officials noted that this prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative designed to reduce violent crime by coordinating law enforcement efforts across agencies while working with communities. The Department of Justice strengthened PSN strategies starting May 26, 2021; these focus areas include fostering trust within communities, supporting organizations that work to prevent violence before it starts, prioritizing focused enforcement actions, and tracking outcomes. More information about Project Safe Neighborhoods can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psn.
