Ashraf Lakhani, a 51-year-old female of Pakistani descent, was tragically killed on February 15, 2019, during a robbery at the Valero gas station on East Corporate Drive in Lewisville, Texas. Lakhani, who had recently married and was the mother of two adult sons, was working the overnight shift when two male suspects entered the store and demanded money. Despite complying with their demands and handing over cash from the register, Lakhani was shot by one of the robbers.
The entire encounter lasted about 30 seconds, and she was found lying on the floor by a customer who interrupted the robbery. Lakhani was rushed to the hospital but did not survive her injuries.
The suspects in the case were identified as 21-year-old Jamarque Jamez Washington and 21-year-old Kwame Juwanzaa Mickels. Washington was arrested in September 2019 in connection with a separate deadly shooting in San Antonio, and evidence collected at that crime scene linked him to Lakhani's murder. During an interview with a detective, Washington confessed to killing Lakhani. Mickels was arrested on October 28, 2019, at an apartment in Carrollton and also confessed to his role in the murder during an interview with a detective. Both suspects were charged with capital murder and booked into the Lewisville Jail, with Mickels' bond set at $100,000. Washington remained jailed in San Antonio to face charges for the 2018 murder.
Lakhani's death was a significant loss to her family and the community. She was remembered as a hard worker who spent countless hours volunteering at her local mosque. Friends, family, and well-wishers held a vigil in her memory outside the Valero gas station where she worked. The community expressed their grief and called for justice, with Lakhani's sons urging anyone with information to come forward. The Lewisville police released surveillance video and images of the suspects in hopes of identifying them and offered rewards for information leading to their arrest and indictment. Despite the arrests, the investigation into Lakhani's murder continued, with police following leads and seeking additional information from the public.
