On September 4, 2023, at approximately 11:30 AM, Dallas police officers responded to a shooting incident in the 4700 block of Denley Drive. Upon arrival, they discovered 51-year-old Absolom Errock Cobbs, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Dallas Fire-Rescue attended to Cobbs, but he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The preliminary investigation revealed that Cobbs had been involved in an argument with his landlord, 45-year-old Damien Walker. Walker suspected that Cobbs was selling drugs from the residence and confronted him, demanding that he vacate the property. During the confrontation, Walker alleged that Cobbs grabbed him, prompting Walker to push him away and draw his firearm. Walker admitted to shooting Cobbs once, and then several more times after Cobbs had fallen to the ground, claiming he believed Cobbs was reaching for a weapon. However, Walker conceded that he never saw Cobbs with a weapon during the incident.
After the shooting, Walker called 911 to report the incident, stating that he had shot Cobbs multiple times and would wait for officers at his own residence on Trojan Street, approximately four miles away. He was subsequently taken into custody without incident. During a search of the property, detectives found a firearm in a separate room, but no weapons were discovered in the room where Cobbs was shot. Walker was charged with murder and held on a $500,000 bond. Records indicate that Walker had no prior criminal history, while Cobbs had previous felony and misdemeanor drug arrests, though none related to distribution.
The case was documented under case number 159638-2023. In March 2024, a Grand Jury returned a "no bill," meaning they declined to indict Walker on the murder charge.
Absolom Cobbs was born on September 26, 1971, in Dallas, Texas. He attended schools in the Dallas and Richardson Independent School Districts. Known for his outgoing personality and sense of humor, Cobbs enjoyed spending time with his family and was remembered for keeping everyone laughing with his jokes. He is survived by his mother, Jeanetta Yeager-Cobbs, his son, Elijah Cobbs, and several siblings. A visitation was held on September 15, 2023, followed by a Celebration of Life on September 16, 2023, at Peaceful Rest Funeral Home in Dallas.
