Noah Ney, the Oklahoma teenager sentenced to more than 50 years in prison as an adult for his role in a 2022 gang-related drive-by shooting that seriously injured a 5-year-old girl, is drawing fresh scrutiny from prosecutors ahead of a scheduled 2028 judicial review.
Ney, now 19 and housed at the maximum-security Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, has racked up at least seven documented Department of Corrections misconduct violations since 2024, according to Tulsa County prosecutors and local media reports. The infractions include property damage, multiple instances of marijuana use, possession of a contraband cell phone, fighting, urinating on a holding cell wall and inappropriate behavior with a volunteer.
The case has resurfaced virally in recent weeks after social media clips allegedly filmed inside the prison began circulating widely on Instagram, TikTok, X and Facebook. In the videos, Ney is seen flashing gang signs associated with the Hoover Crips, appearing to smoke marijuana, rapping and pulling pranks on fellow inmates. Prosecutors say the footage — believed to have been recorded and posted using smuggled cell phones — demonstrates a continued lack of remorse and rehabilitation, directly countering any potential arguments for leniency at his October 2028 sentence review.
photo credit:Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office
Ney was 14 years old in April 2022 when he participated in the drive-by shooting as part of his initiation into the Hoover Crips gang. Riding in a stolen SUV, he fired shots toward a Tulsa home, striking the young girl in the neck and shoulder while she played inside. The bullet came within inches of being fatal, prosecutors said at the time, though the child survived with lasting trauma. Ney was convicted on 10 felony counts, including shooting with intent to kill, firearm possession, drug possession, car theft and gang-related offenses.
He entered the case with a prior juvenile record dating back to middle school. While awaiting trial in juvenile detention, Ney’s behavior included assaults on staff, an escape attempt and other disruptions that prosecutors used to successfully argue he should be tried as an adult. In October 2023, at age 16, he received the lengthy sentence in Tulsa County court. The judge included a judicial review clause set for 2028, offering Ney the chance to demonstrate good behavior and rehabilitation that could potentially lead to a reduced term.
Tulsa County prosecutors have cited both the misconduct reports and the viral videos in filings, arguing that Ney’s actions behind bars show no meaningful change. Prisons ban cell phones, drugs and fighting, yet contraband smuggling remains a persistent issue in many facilities. The videos, which have been amplified by accounts such as Daily Loud, have reignited public discussion about the case.
Some online posts have inaccurately described the young victim as paralyzed; official reports and court records confirm she suffered a serious neck and shoulder wound but survived.
The story has sparked broader conversations about youth gang involvement, the impact of random drive-by shootings on innocent bystanders — particularly children — and the challenges of rehabilitation in the adult prison system. The victim’s family has continued to speak about the profound trauma caused by the senseless gang initiation.
As the 2028 review approaches, prosecutors are expected to push strongly against any reduction in Ney’s sentence, pointing to the documented record as evidence that he remains a public safety risk. No new court dates beyond the scheduled review have been announced.
