Demetrius James Lee Jones, a 22-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on October 30, 2022, in downtown Austin, Texas. The incident occurred near the Swing Hookah Lounge located at 617 East 7th Street. According to reports, the shooting happened around 4:53 a.m. when officers responded to a call and found Jones lying in the street with gunshot wounds.
Despite life-saving measures, Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation revealed that Jones had been involved in an argument with another man, Ja Vaughn Katrell Clarke, earlier that night. As Jones attempted to leave the scene, Clarke allegedly shot him. Clarke, a 21-year-old African American male, fled the area immediately after the shooting. An arrest warrant for first-degree murder was issued for Clarke, and the Austin Police Department sought assistance from the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force to locate and apprehend him.
On November 4, 2022, U.S. Marshals arrested Clarke in north Austin. He was found inside an apartment complex in the 13000 block of Dessau Road and was taken into custody without incident. Clarke was then transported to the Austin Police Department and subsequently transferred to the Travis County Jail, where he awaited judicial proceedings. The arrest was made possible through a fugitive investigation that revealed Clarke's known residence in the north Austin area.
The case of Demetrius James Lee Jones' murder is being investigated as Austin's 59th homicide of 2022. The Austin Police Department continues to seek information and video footage related to the incident. Anyone with details is encouraged to contact the APD Homicide unit or Crime Stoppers anonymously. The tragic death of Demetrius James Lee Jones highlights the ongoing issue of gun violence and the need for community cooperation in solving such cases.
