On the evening of November 16, 2021, 60-year-old Ali Elbanna, a Palestinian-American man and father of five, was fatally shot during an attempted robbery in the parking lot of a Costco Business Center in northeast Dallas, Texas. Elbanna was loading groceries into his SUV when he was approached by four individuals—three adults and one juvenile—who demanded his belongings. When Elbanna refused, the juvenile shot him once before the group fled the scene.
Elbanna was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The suspects were quickly apprehended by Dallas police. They were identified as James Levels Janiya Lashay Miller Jacoby Bryce Tatum and a 16-year-old juvenile named Camron Range. All four were charged in connection with the murder and related robberies. Range, identified as the shooter, had a history of criminal activity dating back to age 12 and was on probation for burglary at the time of the incident. He was wearing an ankle monitor that was reportedly not functioning properly. In July 2022, a judge ruled that Range would be tried as an adult.
The group had embarked on a crime spree prior to the shooting, including stealing a truck in Highland Park, robbing two students at South Oak Cliff High School, and attempting a carjacking at NorthPark Center. Approximately ten minutes after the attempted carjacking, they confronted Elbanna at the Costco parking lot.
Legal proceedings concluded with significant sentences for the involved parties. Camron Range pleaded guilty to capital murder and was sentenced to 60 years in prison, along with an additional 30 years for aggravated robbery, to be served concurrently. James Levels received a 40-year sentence for murder and 25 years for a separate robbery, also to be served concurrently. Janiya Miller, who drove the vehicle during the crime spree, was sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder. Jacoby Tatum faced separate charges of aggravated robbery and was released on house arrest with exceptions for work and church attendance, a decision that drew criticism from Elbanna's family.
Elbanna's family, devastated by the loss, actively sought justice and advocated for the suspects to be tried as adults. They highlighted systemic issues within the juvenile justice system, particularly concerning the monitoring and rehabilitation of repeat offenders. Elbanna, a naturalized American citizen born to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, had lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for over 30 years. He was known for his kindness and generosity, operating a small wholesale business in Arlington, Texas.
