In the heart of Dallas, a community is grappling with the sudden and violent death of 27-year-old Just Smith-Gibbs, a talented tattoo artist and business owner who was fatally shot on the evening of January 6, 2026. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. in the 2900 block of East 11th Street, near Cedar Crest Boulevard, outside of Smith-Gibbs' own tattoo shop, Legendary Ink.
Friends and clients remembered Smith-Gibbs as a hardworking and positive individual, dedicated to his craft and to
uplifting those around him. His distinctive Corvette, often parked in front of his shop, was a familiar sight in the neighborhood and became a somber marker of the crime scene. Many saw his business as a beacon of positive change in the Cedar Crest area. He was a father who reportedly left behind two children with two more on the way.
According to police reports, an armed suspect approached Smith-Gibbs and opened fire. Smith-Gibbs, who was also armed, returned fire in an apparent exchange of gunfire. He was struck multiple times and transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect fled the scene, leaving behind a vehicle, and remained at large in the days following the shooting. Dallas police have been actively investigating the homicide, working to determine a motive and the circumstances that led to the fatal encounter. Homicide detectives were reviewing surveillance footage from the business in an effort to identify the individual responsible for the shooting. As of early January 2026, no arrests had been announced in connection with the case. Authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward and contact Detective R. Kramer of the Dallas Police Department.
