Clarke County is mourning the loss of Peyton Davidson after a Halloween party he attended Friday night in El Reno, Oklahoma, turned deadly.
Anyone who has ever crossed paths with Peyton can easily remember his fun-loving personality. Most people in the community remember seeing him on Quitman’s football field as he towered over other players and played his position well on the field. His friends and family lovingly referred to him as “Big Red,” and his death leaves a lasting impact on those who knew him.
“I know that he’s going to be missed,” stated his father, Jason Davidson. “He was well-known, especially around home. Most people knew what type of guy he was. If he loved you, he loved you and would go to the ends of the earth for you. If he didn’t like you, you knew that too. He never made any bones about it. He was just outgoing and loved to have fun.”
It was while he was enjoying time at a Halloween party with friends that things took a turn for the worse, and his life was tragically cut short.
“Peyton was at a Halloween party at a friend’s house where he and another guy had an altercation,” explained Davidson. “The suspect pulled a gun and shot Peyton twice in the head and then stood over him and fired another shot into his head.”
The suspect, 21-year-old Delsin Joshua Tsotigh, remained at the scene of the crime after the shooting. When authorities arrived, they were able to detain him without incident. He was taken to the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office where he has been charged with shooting with intent to kill, domestic assault and battery with a deadly weapon, and first-degree murder.
It is not a call that any parent ever wants to receive, but his family were able to say their final goodbyes to Peyton before making a difficult decision.
“He was pronounced brain dead upon arrival at OU Medical Center around 3:00 a.m. on October 28, 2023,” continued Davidson. “Once we got over there and said our goodbye, I had to make the decision to take him off of the machines keeping him breathing. He was officially pronounced dead at 7:57 p.m. that evening.”
Visitation for him will be at the Quitman High School Football field on Saturday, November 4, from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. They are appreciative of the support that the community has demonstrated to them since this event happened and are thankful for all of the contributions that have been made to bring Peyton home to Mississippi and have a funeral.
“The donations have been very generous and are very much appreciated,” declared Davidson. “We greatly appreciate the community’s outpouring of love and care. What the community has done has not gone unnoticed.”
At this time, a gofundme has been set up at https://gofund.me/b70eb5be for anyone who would like to donate.
The Quitman High School Class of 2021 is also hosting a Fish Fry Benefit on Friday, November 3, from 2:00 p.m. – until at 642 South Archusa Avenue in Quitman. They will be serving fish (catfish, whiting, or Swai), baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, and a dessert (peach cobbler, banana pudding, and cake). They are accepting all donations, from monetary donations to food donations to help raise the money. Contact Halle Loper or Zeleshia Brown on Facebook for more information.
