Barbara Berry

A loving daughter, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Barbara Christine Berry was known for her beautiful smile and the deep love she had for her family and her faith. Born in Dallas, Texas, on Christmas Day in 1960, Barbara’s caring spirit was a gift to all who knew her. She attended Wilmer-Hutchins High School, where she formed friendships that would last a lifetime. Her innate compassion led her to a career as a home healthcare provider. Barbara, a 58-year-old female, was an active and devoted member of the Deliverance Chapel Church of God in Christ for more than two decades, where she sang in the choir and participated in many church functions. Her family remembers her as a loving person who cherished them and her dog, and whose presence will be forever missed.

The life of this beloved matriarch was tragically cut short on Friday, March 8, 2019. In the early hours of the morning, police were called to the Crawford Park Apartments at 1100 N. Masters Drive in the Pleasant Hills neighborhood of Southeast Dallas. Inside her apartment, officers found Barbara Berry in her living room. She had been shot once. Investigators found a single shell casing near her body, a stark piece of evidence in the sudden, violent end to her life.

The Dallas Police Department launched a homicide investigation. Detectives learned from a witness that a gunshot had been heard inside Barbara’s apartment. The witness then saw two men leaving, one of whom was known as "Tony." This man, who occasionally stayed with Barbara, was later identified by police as 26-year-old Thomas Lucas Daniel. Investigators also noted that Barbara's purse was missing from her apartment, suggesting robbery as a possible motive.

Based on witness statements and evidence gathered at the scene, the Dallas Police Department obtained a capital murder warrant for Thomas Lucas Daniel on Sunday, March 10, 2019. The search for him did not last long. On Wednesday, March 13, 2019, authorities located and arrested Daniel at a home on May Street in Monroe, Louisiana. The Monroe Police Department took him into custody without incident. He was booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center to await extradition back to Dallas to face the capital murder charge.

Barbara Berry was preceded in death by her parents and a grandson. She left behind to cherish her memory her daughter, two sons, grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, along with a sister, three brothers, and a host of other relatives and friends who mourned the loss of her loving and giving presence. A viewing was held for her on Thursday, March 14, 2019, allowing loved ones to say their final goodbyes.

Following his arrest in Louisiana, Thomas Lucas Daniel was slated to be returned to Texas to be tried for the capital murder of Barbara Berry. However, the subsequent legal proceedings and the final outcome of the case against him are not detailed in publicly available information. As of early 2019, the case was marked for litigation following the apprehension of the sole suspect. The current status of the charges against Daniel remains unclear in available records.