Kareem Kendreal Jones

Kareem Kendreal Jones, a smart and outgoing 19-year-old Black man, was remembered for his love of life, family, and basketball. Born in Jackson, Mississippi, on March 7, 2003, to Rosa Thomas and Kareen Jones, he was the fourth of five children. Kareem was known for his beautiful smile and his passion for learning new things, with science being his favorite subject in school. He attended Rufus C. Burleson Elementary and later completed his education at McArthur High School in Irving, Texas. Outside of school, he loved playing video games and was a dedicated member of an AAU basketball team in Irving. His family, including his parents and four siblings, cherished him deeply.

The afternoon of January 10, 2023, turned tragic for Kareem and his loved ones. At approximately 1:55 p.m., he was in the vicinity of the 7200 block of Elam Road, at the intersection with North Jim Miller Road in southeast Dallas. It was there that a black car slowed down, and an individual inside opened fire. Kareem was struck by the gunfire. Dallas Police officers responded to the shooting call and found him lying wounded on the ground. Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel rushed him to a local hospital, but his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The Dallas Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation. Detectives learned from a witness that the shots were fired from a black car that slowed before the attack. The investigation quickly focused on finding this vehicle. Investigators obtained surveillance video that captured a black Chevrolet with distinctive damage to one of its doors. Using a combination of tracking information from the dealership where the car was purchased and data from license plate readers, police were able to locate the vehicle at a residence about a twenty-minute drive from the crime scene.

The owner of the Chevrolet told police she had given a 17-year-old named Ladavion Arnold permission to use her car. On the day of the shooting, she had tried to get him to return it, but he claimed it had been stolen. She used a phone application to track the car herself, finding it not far from where the shooting occurred. Based on this and other evidence, the investigation swiftly identified two suspects. A witness identified Arnold as the driver of the car and 18-year-old Javar Rokeem Washington Jr. as the passenger who fired the shots that killed Kareem Jones.

On January 24, 2023, Dallas police arrested Ladavion Arnold, who was jailed on a murder charge with his bail set at $250,000. Shortly after, on February 3, 2023, Javar Rokeem Washington Jr. was arrested and booked into the Dallas County jail, also facing a murder charge. His bail was set at $1 million. At the time of his arrest, Washington’s attorney declined to comment on the case.

In the wake of his death, Kareem's family organized a fundraiser for his homegoing service, remembering the young man known to some as "KJ." His obituary paints a picture of a beloved son, brother, and friend whose life was cut tragically short. An aunt remembered her nephew fondly, writing, "Nephew I'm truly hurt save me a seat on that crazy train in heaven lol. Much love."

The case against the two teenagers charged in Kareem's death is proceeding through the justice system. As of early 2023, both Ladavion Arnold and Javar Rokeem Washington Jr. were in custody, facing murder charges for their alleged roles in the fatal drive-by shooting. The Dallas Police Department had asked anyone with information to contact Detective Patty Belew, referencing case number 005787-2023.