Jared McKnight

Jared McKnight, a 30-year-old Black man known to friends and family as "Jbo," is remembered by loved ones as a funny, thoughtful, and very caring person. A father to four children, his sister Jennifer Chambers said he meant everything to his family. Though he was involved in illicit activities, she emphasized that he was a beloved brother who had been a constant in her life for 30 years. "He didn't deserve to die," she said, holding his one-year-old child during an interview.

On the evening of August 3, 2017, Jared was at a house on the 3200 block of Morgan Street in the southeast Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas. The residence, a former daycare, had become known to police as a "dope trap." Investigators said Jared ran the operation, which was rumored to bring in several thousand dollars a day. Around 7:30 p.m., both Jared and another man, 59-year-old Thomas Dabney, were shot and killed inside the house. Police stated that Dabney was just hanging around that day. The motive was believed to be related to money.

The Dallas Police Department began a homicide investigation, led by Detective Tommy T.L. Railey. Investigators identified a suspect who knew the victims: Viantre Kimbrough. Surveillance video from the night of the murders captured Kimbrough wearing a distinctive short-sleeve camouflage-style shirt and a necklace with a medallion on a long chain. Knowing his identity but not his location, police turned to the public for help.

The case was featured on a local FOX 4 news segment called "Trackdown," which aired the surveillance footage of Kimbrough and details of the double homicide. The public appeal was successful. Viewers provided tips that helped police locate the suspect. In December 2017, Dallas police announced that Viantre Kimbrough had been arrested and charged in the murders of Jared McKnight and Thomas Dabney. Deputy Chief Thomas Castro commended the citizens who came forward with information.

In the wake of the killings, Jared's sister, Jennifer Chambers, spoke about the profound loss her family experienced. While acknowledging her brother's lifestyle, she defended his character, saying, "He did his 'thing,' but that's been my brother for 30 years. I can’t even tell you one fight he had." A Dallas detective echoed the sentiment that the victims' lives mattered, regardless of their circumstances. "What kind of business they did to feed their families that was their choice," Detective Railey said. "It's still two lives taken."

Following the arrest of Viantre Kimbrough in late 2017, the case was expected to proceed through the Dallas County court system. However, public information regarding the final disposition of the capital murder charges against him is not readily available. As of the latest available reports, the case was resolved through litigation after Kimbrough's arrest.