In the early morning hours of August 20, 2022, the life of 36-year-old Tunis Sando Lomax, a Black/African American male, was tragically cut short in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Responding to reports of a gunshot around 2 a.m., police discovered Lomax outside his apartment building near 26th Street and Bahnson Avenue. He was suffering from a single gunshot wound and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. At the scene, investigators recovered a single.
40 caliber shell casing, a small but crucial piece of evidence in what would become a complex and lengthy investigation into his death.
For months, the case remained without arrests, leaving a void in the lives of his family and community, who remembered him as a loving husband and father. The Sioux Falls Police Department continued their investigative work, which eventually led to a breakthrough in May 2023. Authorities announced the arrests of four young men in connection with Lomax's murder. Eighteen-year-old Salim Mohamed was charged with first-degree murder, while Mohamed Hassan, 19, Mustefa Sahle, 20, and Hamza Hassan, 19, faced charges including first-degree manslaughter and possession of a stolen vehicle. The arrests were the culmination of months of dedicated police work.
The investigation had pieced together a puzzle involving a separate incident. In September 2022, a stolen. 40 caliber handgun was recovered following an arrest related to car burglaries. This was the same caliber as the weapon used to kill Lomax. The investigation further revealed that the handgun had allegedly been purchased from Mohamed just two weeks after the homicide. Surveillance footage and forensic evidence from stolen vehicles in the vicinity of Lomax's apartment on the night of the shooting also linked the suspects to the scene. Despite these developments and the initial charges, the case took another turn. By March 2024, all charges against the four suspects in connection to Tunis Lomax's death were dismissed, and they were released from custody. The Minnehaha County Deputy State's Attorney indicated that ongoing investigations can uncover new information that necessitates changes to the charges. As it stands, the case into the death of Tunis Lomax remains open, with justice for him and his family still being sought.
