A former Dallas police officer was taken into custody for allegedly murdering a man over a dispute over a necklace, according to police.
43-year-old Cathryn Lafitte was charged with murder after she allegedly killed her neighbor, JaMarlon Clardy, 46, over a dispute regarding a necklace.
Fort Worth police responded to a call in the 5500 block of Goodman Ave. on August 2, 2022, at about 6:30 p.m.
Officers arrived on the scene to find Clardy lying in the front yard and had been shot multiple times, according to police.
Based on crime scene photographs, Clardy was shot once in the back and once in the upper abdomen.
He was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died.
Detectives found multiple shell casings near the front door of the house.
According to statements from an unknown woman who is in a relationship with Clardy, and was at the scene, she and Clardy had gone to the address the week before the shooting to get a necklace allegedly taken from Clardy.
Clardy had been in a long-time feud with Officer Lafitte about his dogs, and Lafitte had Clardy’s necklace, according to the unknown woman.
According to the woman, Lafitte had allegedly been texting Clardy for several days about getting the necklace back to him.
The unnamed woman said Clardy believed Lafitte was “playing games” because the necklace was never where Lafitte claimed to have left it.
Clardy allegedly knocked on Lafitte’s door the day of the shooting.
Lafitte opened the door and allegedly shot Clardy right away.
Audio of the incident was captured on a recording device by the unknown woman and was given to investigators.
In the recording, detectives could hear the door open, and Clardy asking for his necklace, the door then shuts, reopens, and gunshots are heard going off.
Lafitte described the incident differently than the unnamed woman.
Lafitte opened the door, told investigators that Clardy said, “you hurt my neck,” and lunged at her.
She said she grabbed her gun and shot “until she ran out,” according to the warrant.
Lafitte also shot at the unknown woman, telling detectives that she thought it was the same woman who attacked her in July.
She also told officers that she was “in fear for her life” and that Clardy “bum-rushed her,” which is why she shot.
Officers were able to look at the video shot on Clardy’s phone.
Investigators said that the video shows Clardy trying to retrieve his necklace and allegedly shows the front door cracking open before Clardy asks for his necklace back.
The video did not show Clardy making a lunge at Lafitte or attempting to open the door, according to police.
Detectives determined that Lafitte’s story did not match up with the evidence, and was arrested.
Lafitte faces one charge of murder and one charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Her bond is set at $100,000.
The Dallas Express reached out to the Fort Worth Police Department for comment and additional information but has not heard back at this time.
