Federal Jury Found Bartlesville Man Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter

TULSA, Okla. – Today, a federal jury convicted a Bartlesville man of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.

According to court documents, Dylan Ray Alexander, 32, was indicted in February 2025, followed by a superseding indictment in March 2025. Evidence presented at trial showed that on February 2, 2025, Bartlesville Police officers were dispatched in reference to a 911 call of an injured man in the street.

When officers located the victim, Kevin Holden, he was lying on the road with a gunshot wound to his stomach, holding keys in his hands. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Witnesses testified that they heard Alexander arguing with a man, followed by a loud “pop.” Alexander was seen fleeing the scene after the shooting and discarded the handgun he used. Officers found the discarded firearm and Alexander the following day.

Upon questioning by detectives, Alexander claimed that he acted in self-defense because the victim attacked him with a knife. A detective later found a box knife folded and locked closed in the victim’s jeans.

Court records and additional evidence presented at trial show that Alexander was previously convicted of two felonies. He pleaded guilty to possessing a controlled substance and assault and battery on a police officer.

Despite six defense eyewitnesses testifying in support of Alexander’s self-defense claim, the jury unanimously rejected this defense and convicted him of involuntary manslaughter as a lesser included offense of second-degree murder. Alexander was acquitted of Using, Carrying, Brandishing, or Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. He is a member of the Cherokee Nation and was released on bond until sentencing is scheduled.

The FBI, Bartlesville Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Nowata County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Dunn and Tara Heign prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.