Winfred Talley Jr

In the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, February 24, 2024, a dispute in Waco, Texas, turned deadly, ending the life of 39-year-old Winfred Talley Jr. The altercation began inside a nightclub, Club Blaam, located in the 600 block of Ruby Avenue. The conflict spilled outside, and at approximately 3:01 a.m., gunfire erupted. Mr. Talley, a male, was struck and fatally wounded. Two young women, ages 18 and 19, were also injured by the gunfire but were expected to recover. Individuals at the scene rushed Mr. Talley to a nearby hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

Waco police immediately launched a homicide investigation. According to an arrest warrant issued later, the incident stemmed from an altercation between Mr. Talley and another man, Amani Gibson. The warrant stated that Gibson had been ejected from the nightclub by security staff on two separate occasions that night. Cell phone footage captured parts of the confrontation near the club’s entrance. Despite his removal from the venue, the conflict continued outside, escalating to the fatal shooting. For months, the shooter remained at large as investigators worked to identify and locate him.

The investigation led authorities to Arlington, Texas. On October 1, 2024, officers with the U.S. Marshal’s Lone Star Fugitive Task Force and the Arlington Police Department acted on a tip regarding the suspect's location. They found 25-year-old Amani Gibson and initiated a traffic stop, taking him into custody without incident. Gibson was booked into the Arlington City Jail on a murder warrant from Waco police before being extradited to McLennan County to face the charge.

In January 2025, a grand jury indicted Amani Gibson for the murder of Winfred Talley Jr. The case proceeded to trial, and in April 2026, a McLennan County jury found Gibson guilty of murder. He was subsequently sentenced to serve 50 years in prison. With the conviction and sentencing, the case was officially closed as of April 2026.