Jacob Contreras

Jacob Contreras was a 22-year-old Hispanic man from Dallas, Texas, who was building a life around his passion for cutting hair. An aspiring barber known for his creative cuts and hairline designs, Jacob had attended W.W. Samuell High School and Texas Barber College. Those who knew him described him as funny, kind, smart, and loveable. He lived with his father, Benito Contreras, in a close-knit community in South Dallas.

In the early hours of May 23, 2019, tragedy struck the family’s home. At approximately 1:24 a.m., as Jacob was entering his house in the 4000 block of Agnes Street, he was confronted by two men. Investigators believe the men were attempting to rob him when he was shot multiple times on his own front porch. His father heard about five gunshots and ran to a window, where he saw his son on the ground. Jacob died in his father's arms.

Dallas police detectives Scott Sayers and Nathan Heathcote began investigating the homicide. They recovered security camera footage from down the street that showed two suspects. One of the men was carrying a distinctive child's backpack with "Minions" on it. The suspects fled after the shooting, but they left some of their belongings behind, including the backpack. In the days that followed, police appealed to the public for help, and Crime Stoppers offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest. A memorial was set up on the porch where Jacob lost his life.

The investigation led to a significant development in the case. Police arrested a 25-year-old man named Ross and charged him with murder in the fatal shooting of Jacob Contreras. The case is now proceeding through the legal system.