An 18-year-old man is facing a capital murder charge after a Halloween night shooting in Dallas left three people dead and several others injured. Police identified the suspect as Justin Murdock, who was arrested late Tuesday night following an investigation into the deadly violence in Deep Ellum.
The shooting happened in the early hours of November 1, along South Crowdus Street in the popular Dallas entertainment district. What began as a crowded Halloween celebration ended with three people losing their lives and several others being rushed to hospitals.
Dallas police said Murdock was involved in a confrontation with another group over a group of girls. The situation turned violent when gunfire erupted. Three people were killed, while several others suffered injuries. At least one injured person remained hospitalized following the shooting.
The victims killed in the South Crowdus Street incident were identified as 28-year-old Unique Elise Benjamin, 21-year-old Kaniesa Scott and 25-year-old Anthony Martin. Their deaths were part of a wider night of violence that left four people dead across Deep Ellum.
Investigators said they identified Murdock through witness statements, surveillance footage and photographs taken during the incident. Detectives spent days reviewing available evidence before authorities moved to arrest him. He was taken into custody late Tuesday, November 10.
Murdock now faces a charge of capital murder of multiple persons. The charge relates to the deaths of the three people in the South Crowdus Street shooting. He remains accused, and the charge has not been proven in court.
The Crowdus Street shooting was the third of three separate shootings reported in Deep Ellum within roughly 75 minutes. The first happened around 12:20 a.m. in the 2600 block of Elm Street, where 20-year-old Isaiah Boling was killed. A second shooting followed around 1:05 a.m. in the 2600 block of Main Street, leaving seven people injured.
By the time the violence ended, four people had been killed and approximately 15 others had been injured across the three incidents. Police have continued working to establish what happened at each location and whether there were connections between the shootings.
Murdock’s arrest is another major development in an investigation that has left several North Texas families mourning their loved ones. Police say additional arrests are possible as detectives continue examining evidence and following up on information from witnesses.
For the families of Benjamin, Scott and Martin, the investigation is about more than an arrest. Three lives were lost during a night when people had gathered to celebrate Halloween. Authorities are still working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the violence.