Police have determined that a case of mistaken identity is what led to a fatal shooting at a 7-Eleven store earlier this month.
The April 5 shooting left one person dead and critically injured another. The alleged gunman, 24-year-old Donald Moore, was arrested on April 12 and charged with murder.
Police said the shooting stemmed from a fight that broke out two days earlier at the same 7-Eleven, located at 1010 Ross Avenue in downtown Dallas. Moore was assaulted on April 3 outside the convenience store, according to a police affidavit.
Two days later, Moore allegedly shot 18-year-old Gayle Jones and 17-year-old Omarian Frazier. Fox4 Dallas reported that an unidentified witness told police that Moore wanted to kill the two people that had beaten him up.
Jones was shot in the leg, chest, and left eye, according to police. The bullet that penetrated his left eye went out through his left ear, Jones’s mother, Stacey Jackson, told Fox4.
Although he lost an eye in the shooting, Jones survived, but his best friend Omarian Frazier, unfortunately, did not. Frazier died from his injuries at the scene, according to police.
However, neither of the victims had been involved in the assault that had occurred two days earlier, police said. After viewing surveillance footage of the fight, detectives determined that the two men who assaulted Moore looked similar to Jones and Frazier, but were not the same individuals.
Jones’ parents expressed to FOX4 the frustration and anger they feel about what happened to their son.
“Mistaken identity, period. You had no business going in there and opening fire,” said Gayle Jones Sr.
While Jones Sr. is thankful that his son survived, the family says their heart goes out to Frazier’s family.
“They’re in our prayers every day. They’re on my mind every day,” said Jackson. “So cherish every moment that you have with your children.”
Moore was booked into the Dallas County Jail and his bond was set at $250,000.
The assault and subsequent shooting occurred in Dallas City Council District 14, represented by Council Member Paul Ridley.
Murder continues to plague the city of Dallas. Homicides are up 25% year to date compared to last year, according to the Dallas Police Department’s daily crime briefing.