Jabari Walters

Jabari Walters, a 33-year-old Black man from New Orleans, Louisiana, was a talented musician and athlete. Known as a gifted baritone and trombone player, he had attended several schools, including Texas College. He also played football as a wide receiver for Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. His life was cut short in the summer of 2022.

On the night of August 11, 2022, police in Mesquite, Texas, were called to a shooting at about 10:35 p.m. in the 3800 block of Anthony Drive, near Town East Boulevard and U.S. Highway 80. Arriving officers found Jabari Walters on the ground with a gunshot wound to his torso. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A witness at the scene told detectives they heard as many as four gunshots and saw a dark-colored vehicle drive away. The investigation quickly led to a suspect, and two days later, on August 13, police arrested 19-year-old Michelle Myahana Johnson of Mesquite. She was subsequently charged with the murder of Jabari Walters.

According to police reports, Johnson was Walters' girlfriend. She told investigators that she felt "trapped" in their relationship. Johnson admitted that she had obtained a handgun and arranged to meet with Walters on the night he was killed. She was booked into the Dallas County jail, where her bond was set at $1.5 million. As of August 2022, the case was proceeding through the legal system.