Two high school seniors were gunned down in front of a convenience store last Friday night in Dallas, leaving their loved ones stunned and desperate for justice.
Camren Stacy and Kamari Smith-Capps, both 18 and just a few months short of graduating, were discovered shot to death in front of the Uncle Lee Grocery Food Market in South Dallas on March 23 at approximately 9:20 p.m.
Officers with the Dallas Police Department were deployed to the 3800 block of Dixon Avenue, finding Smith-Capps behind the steering wheel of a vehicle and Stacy lying on the ground nearby. Police have indicated that both victims had been shot while inside the vehicle, per Fox 4 KDFW.
The suspects fled the scene following the shooting, and there have been no updates in the investigation.
The two young men met as freshmen at Berkner High School in Richardson ISD and had been joined at the hip ever since.
“They were like brothers. If you saw one, you saw the other,” Smith-Capps’ mother said during a press conference, per CBS News Texas.
Rep. Ana-María Ramos (D-Richardson) released a statement calling the teens’ deaths “an unfathomable tragedy.”
“No community should have to experience this kind of senseless violence, and it is harrowing to see young lives taken away from us all too soon. My heart and prayers are with their family, friends, and everyone grieving this unimaginable loss,” she said. “I know this will be a difficult time for many in our community, and I want to offer my support in any way that I can.”
“Our youth deserve a childhood free from the constant threat of tragedy, one where they can exist in peace and safety without fear. Our children should be able to enjoy their Friday nights without having to worry about being shot,” Ramos added.
“My babies will never see the light of day again. They don’t have a future anymore. You took that from them,” Smith-Capps’ mother said, per NBC 5 DFW. “If you know something, please say something. Please say something. Please get justice for Kamari and Camren. They deserve justice.”
Anyone with information about the double murder is urged to contact Det. Jacob White at 214-671-3690 or by email at [email protected]. Reference case number 046238-2024.
In Dallas, there was a 15% increase in homicides between 2022 and 2023, climbing from 214 to 246, per data from the City’s crime analytics dashboard. As of March 27, a total of 50 criminal homicide offenses had been logged in 2024, nine of which took place in Council Member Adam Bazaldua’s District 7, where last week’s double murder occurred. Only Council Members Tennell Atkins’ District 8 and Carolyn King Arnold’s District 4 have seen more murders, clocking 10 each. The majority of murder victims have been black and Hispanic males.
Violent crime has persisted in Dallas in part due to DPD laboring under a significant officer shortage. Downtown Dallas, in particular, has felt the effects of this, with monthly analyses of data by the Metroplex Civic & Business Association showing that it consistently logs more crime than Fort Worth’s city center, which is patrolled by a dedicated police unit and private security guards.
Despite a City report recommending a force of 4,000 officers, DPD fields only around 3,000. Furthermore, this fiscal year, DPD disposes of a budget of just $654 million due to City leaders spending considerably fewer taxpayer dollars on policing than other high-crime jurisdictions, such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City.
