Jayde Marshay Bell-Louis, 24, was found dead in her East Arlington apartment on November 29, 2021. A neighbor reported her door wide open; when officers forced entry to conduct a welfare check they discovered Bell-Louis unresponsive with an apparent gunshot wound. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office later ruled the death a homicide.

Police say Bell-Louis had told friends and family she planned to break up with her boyfriend, 29-year-old Tanavian Smith, days before she was killed. Witnesses reported seeing Smith the day before carrying an assault rifle and loading bags into Bell-Louis’ car. Smith was arrested on unrelated charges outside Houston and later charged in connection with Bell-Louis’ murder.

Family members described Bell-Louis as an ambitious new college graduate working in healthcare and the mother of a 3-year-old daughter. If anyone has information about what happened in the days before November 29, 2021, please come forward to assist the investigation.