On July 8, 2024, at approximately 5:45 a.m., Dallas Police responded to an aggravated robbery call at the A&A Mart in the 300 block of S. Marsalis Avenue. The preliminary investigation determined that an employee of the convenience store, 52-year-old Syed Inayath Ali, was shot by a woman who took property and walked from the store. Ali was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.
Officers later located the woman, 29-year-old Aleigha Horn, in the woods in the 1400 block of Seevers Avenue. She was charged with Aggravated Robbery of Business. On July 15, 2024, the Dallas Police Homicide Unit was notified that Ali had died from his injuries at the hospital. A new warrant was issued for Horn for Capital Murder, and she remained held in the Dallas County Jail.
Further reports revealed that the incident began when Horn entered the store and placed a bottle of water on the counter. An argument ensued between her and Ali, during which Horn pulled out a handgun and shot Ali in the neck. She then walked out of the store with the bottle of water. Syed's coworkers and two responding officers chased after Horn and captured her in a wooded area a few blocks away. A handgun was recovered from the top of a fence post when Horn was arrested.
It was also reported that Horn had an extensive history of violence, with prior charges for aggravated assault, assault causing bodily injury to a family member, and assault on a peace officer. She was out on a $10,000 bond at the time of the robbery.
The case involving Horn remained under investigation. The robbery occurred in Council Member Chad West’s District 1, which is located just west of Downtown Dallas.
