On December 20, 2023, at approximately 5 p.m., 46-year-old Roderick Damon Butler was fatally shot on a sidewalk in the 2200 block of McKinney Avenue in Uptown Dallas, Texas. The shooting occurred near a Wells Fargo bank branch in a busy area with restaurants, stores, and offices. Butler, an Army veteran, was taken to Baylor Dallas Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Roderick Butler was described by his family as a kind and considerate person who had struggled with mental health issues and had experienced homelessness in the past. He had recently moved into an apartment in Southeast Dallas, overcoming his homeless situation. Butler was known to frequent the Uptown Dallas area, attending open mic events and other gatherings.
Initially, Dallas Police believed the shooting was targeted and isolated, stating that Butler was likely targeted for a specific reason. The shooter was seen fleeing towards Maple Avenue after the incident. Law enforcement urged the public to come forward with any information, hoping that surveillance cameras in the area would aid in solving the crime.
On December 26, 2023, Dallas Police arrested 45-year-old Corey Antwon Thompson in the 2600 block of Bickers Street in connection with Butler's murder. Thompson was charged with murder and is currently being held in the Dallas County Jail on a $1.25 million bond. The arrest came six days after the shooting, bringing some relief to Butler's family, who had been praying daily for justice.
Further investigation revealed that Thompson may be connected to at least two other shootings that occurred while he was on the run. One of these incidents took place on Christmas morning in Balch Springs, where a man named Francisco Jesus Manriquez was fatally shot multiple times in the head in what appears to be a random attack. Another shooting in Rowlett is also being investigated for potential links to Thompson.
It was later disclosed that Thompson has a history of aggravated assault convictions and was out on bond at the time of Butler's murder. He had been released on a $10,000 bond in May, facing charges of felony criminal mischief, misdemeanor assault causing bodily injury/family violence, and misdemeanor terroristic threat of family/household.
The case continues to develop as authorities investigate the full extent of Thompson's alleged crimes and any potential motives behind the shootings. The community and Butler's family are left grappling with the sudden and violent loss of a man described as an artist, rapper, and veteran who had been working to improve his life circumstances.
