In the early hours of Sunday, March 22, 2026, a night out at the Exotic Social Club in Tyler, Texas, turned tragic for 24-year-old Keion Dewayne Redd of Jacksonville. Redd was in the parking lot of the club on Highway 64 West when gunfire erupted at approximately 1:45 a.m. He and another man, 32-year-old Keundas Jamoure Sanford of Tyler, were both struck by bullets and pronounced dead at the scene. Two women were also wounded in the shooting.
One was inside the club when a bullet came through the wall and struck her in the leg. Another woman suffered a gunshot wound to her leg and was taken to a hospital by a private vehicle before law enforcement arrived.
The Smith County Sheriff's Office quickly determined the shooting was "100% gang-related." However, investigators do not believe that either Redd or Sanford had any gang affiliations, leading to the tragic conclusion that they were innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire. The incident reportedly began just as a party for Texas College was getting underway. According to Sheriff Larry Smith, the altercation started when someone jumped on the hood of a car and made a statement about being there to "take care of business."
In the aftermath of the deadly shooting, the Smith County Sheriff's Office launched an intensive investigation. They identified at least one suspect and began a search for those involved. A suspect vehicle, a white Buick SUV, was also identified as having left the scene. Law enforcement officials have since taken two individuals into custody in connection with the shooting, though their level of involvement is still being determined. At least one other suspect remains at large, and authorities have indicated that more arrests are expected as the investigation continues. A cash reward of up to $1,000 has been offered for tips leading to an arrest.
