Jose Avila

Jose Avila, 39, was a music producer and an employee for the City of Dallas who was known to loved ones as "Joey" or "Ace." Described as funny, loving, and caring, he was the father of three children.

On the evening of Sunday, August 15, 2021, tragedy struck. At approximately 8:57 p.m., Dallas police responded to a shooting call in the 2700 block of Vilbig Street. Arriving officers discovered Jose Avila, a Hispanic man, lying in the middle of the street with multiple gunshot wounds. Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel responded to the scene, but Avila was pronounced dead from his injuries.

The Dallas Police Department’s Homicide Unit launched an investigation into the killing. The motive and circumstances were not immediately clear. A few days later, the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office formally confirmed the victim's identity as Jose Angel Avila.

During their investigation, detectives identified a suspect they believed was responsible for the murder. On Sunday, September 5, 2021, police arrested 21-year-old Angel Martinez. He was booked into the Dallas County Jail and charged with murder. As of September 2021, Martinez was in custody awaiting a bond hearing.