On April 13, 2024, at approximately 12:30 a.m., Dallas police responded to a shooting in the 4400 block of South Marsalis Avenue in East Oak Cliff. Upon arrival, officers discovered 30-year-old Shaketta Rachell Johnson inside her vehicle, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Despite prompt medical attention, Johnson succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Investigations revealed that Johnson was seated in her car in a strip mall parking lot when two suspects approached and fired multiple rounds into her vehicle before fleeing southbound on South Marsalis Avenue in a blue Mazda sedan and a black Mercedes. The suspects were later identified as 24-year-old Denute Bell and 18-year-old Keylan Bowens. Arrest warrants for murder were promptly issued for both individuals.
On April 19, 2024, police apprehended Bowens, charging him with murder. An arrest affidavit disclosed that surveillance footage captured the sequence of events: Bell, positioned in the front passenger seat of the Mazda, aimed a rifle out the window before exiting the vehicle and firing a shot. As Johnson attempted to escape, Bowens took the rifle from Bell, pursued her on foot, and fired multiple shots into her car after it crashed. The affidavit also noted that Bowens had been shot in the neck by Johnson on April 8 at the same location and had expressed intentions of retaliation, stating he was "going to get even for getting shot."
Subsequently, on November 23, 2024, Dallas police arrested Bell, charging him with murder in connection with Johnson's death. Both suspects are now in custody, facing charges for their alleged involvement in this fatal shooting.
Johnson's passing has left a profound void among her family and friends. Born on March 2, 1994, in Waxahachie, Texas, she was known for her love of people and passion for fashion. She is survived by her daughter, Paris Johnson, and her parents, James Johnson and Robin Hardin Strange. A visitation and wake were held on April 26, 2024, followed by a Celebration of Life on April 27, 2024, to honor and remember her remarkable life.
