Thalamus Livings Jr., 23, was shot and killed on January 23, 2021, at about 2:30 a.m. at a residence on Coronado Place in Orange, Texas. Officers found Livings and his girlfriend, 18-year-old Aaliyah Gradnigo, both with gunshot wounds; Livings was pronounced dead at the scene and Gradnigo was taken to a hospital, where she later died.

A 24-year-old man, Manka Melson of Vinton, Louisiana, was arrested after a three-month investigation and charged with capital murder in both deaths. Police from Orange, Beaumont and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office worked on the case, and forensic evidence including DNA test results were reported to have linked Melson to the scene. Melson was taken into custody without incident and held on $2 million bond, $1 million for each homicide. Motive remains unclear and the investigation was described as ongoing.

The victims’ families have expressed grief and called for justice, and the community held vigils and gatherings in their memory. If anyone knew Thalamus Livings Jr. or has information about what happened that night, please share what you can.