A woman is shot by a customer at her job
Jene Ashleigh Stone, a 21-year-old Caucasian woman, was remembered by her family as a “loving and beautiful person” and the “light in our lives.” Born on September 29, 1985, her life was tragically cut short in a violent act on Thursday, March 8, 2007, in Fort Worth, Texas. Her passing left an irreplaceable void in the hearts of her extensive family and many close friends, who found it true that to know her was to love her. In her obituary, her parents and fiancé left simple, heartbreaking messages: “P.S. I love you,” from her dad; “Sweet child of mine,” from her mom; and “I will never stop loving you, baby girl,” from her fiancé, Monte.
The tragedy unfolded at the T&A Cabaret, a club on East Lancaster Avenue in east Fort Worth where Ashleigh worked as a dancer. In the early hours of the morning, a customer named Dante Empie, 26, got into a confrontation with Ashleigh. The argument escalated over a period of more than an hour. Shortly after 2 a.m., as the club was closing, the dispute reached a horrific conclusion. Empie, from Burleson, pulled out a handgun and fatally shot Ashleigh inside the club. Immediately after killing her, he turned the gun on himself, ending his own life.
Fort Worth police officers responded to the scene, where they found both Stone and Empie deceased. The case was quickly determined by homicide detectives to be a murder-suicide, and the investigation was subsequently closed. The motive for the attack was not publicly detailed by authorities, leaving questions about the nature of the prolonged dispute that led to the fatal shooting. The incident was reportedly the second shooting to occur at the club that month, raising concerns about the safety and security of such establishments in the area.
The loss of Ashleigh was deeply felt by a large and loving family. She was survived by her father and his wife, her mother and stepfather, her fiancé Monte Stinson, five sisters, and two brothers. She also left behind her paternal and maternal grandparents, and a wide circle of aunts, uncles, extended family, and her beloved canine companion, MaKenzie. Her family held a visitation for friends and loved ones, followed by a funeral service at Crosier-Pearson-Mayfield Funeral Home in Burleson. She was laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery in Cleburne.
Dante Empie, the man responsible for Ashleigh’s death, also died at the scene. His obituary stated he passed away on the same day, March 8, 2007. He left behind a wife and a daughter. His family held a private funeral service.
The case of Jene Ashleigh Stone is a closed chapter in the files of the Fort Worth Police Department, a stark and tragic example of workplace violence that ended two lives. For her family and friends, the sorrow remains. Their public messages of love in the wake of her death paint a picture of a cherished young woman whose life was extinguished in a moment of violence, leaving behind an emptiness in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. As of March 2007, the investigation was concluded, and no further legal proceedings occurred.
