Muskogee Police, ABLE Investigating Possible Alcohol-Related Death

One man is dead and three others are in the hospital after police say they drank some type of fluid at a Muskogee home.

Now, the ABLE Commission - which oversees alcohol-related crime - has joined police in the investigation.

Four people went to the hospital early Friday morning from a home in Port City Acres. Neighbors in the housing complex said the group was drinking what they thought was moonshine when they started feeling sick.

Investigators say 23-year-old Colton Hooper was pronounced dead at the hospital and three others were treated.

The ABLE Commission, along with Muskogee police, are waiting on test results from the liquid found in the home and the report from the medical examiner to determine what the liquid is and if it played a role in Hooper's death.

"That's something they are looking into, but, again, until we get some concrete results back, it's tough for us to say," Muskogee officer Lincoln Anderson said.

While Muskogee police still don't know what killed the man, they say when it comes to home-brewed alcohols like moonshine and other concoctions, just don't do it.

"So if you have it, get rid of it, don't drink it. You don't know where it came from, you don't know if it's safe, it's just that simple," Anderson said.

The ABLE Commission said the liquid they collected could be a number of things but won't know for sure until the test results come back.

While investigators wait on those results, Muskogee police have a reminder for the public, “Moonshine is illegal, plain and simple," Anderson said.

Police said if it was moonshine that killed Hooper, the person who made it could be liable for his death, along with other charges.