On Monday night, William Smiley and his friend, 34-year-old Clinton Howard, were working on his car and decided to take it for a cruise around the neighborhood. They ran into a group of people standing on the corner of 15th Street and Hancock Ave.

A fight then erupted.

"All of a sudden he pulled a knife and got me and then went after my friend," Smiley said.

Smiley ran to a house to call 911. Howard decided to drive himself to the hospital but didn't make it.

"Got in a wreck up there at 10th and Grant. Got to the hospital and died on the scene," Smiley said.

Clinton Howard's father is heartbroken over his son's loss.

"It's just heart wrenching. I sit out here and see where the incident happened right here on my front porch. I don't know if we're going to stay here anymore," Howard said.

Crime is going up in Odessa, both neighbors and police have noticed it.

"Statistically speaking the violent crime rate is high here. Population has increased, there a lot of people moving here. The age category is, there a lot of young males who live in Odessa. Statistically speaking, young males are more likely to engage in criminal activity specifically violent crimes," Corporal Steve LeSueur, with the Odessa Police Department, said.

Neighbor and fellow friend Michael Buchanan has seen a change in his once quiet neighborhood.

"I use to sit right there on that corner right there. I can't do that now. We all use to, we all used to have our spots," Buchanan said.

As for William, he is just happy to be alive. And one final message for his friend, Clint

"Rest in peace, and I love him," Smiley said.