Abdelkrim Belachheb�s 1984 Nightclub Massacre in Dallas
Overview
On June 29, 1984, Abdelkrim Belachheb, a 39-year-old Moroccan national residing in the U.S., opened fire in Ianni�s Restaurant and Club�a nightclub in Dallas, Texas�killing six people and wounding one. Although he murdered multiple victims, Texas law at the time did not define multiple murders alone as a capital offense, so the death penalty was unavailable. Belachheb was sentenced to life in prison, and his case prompted the Texas Legislature to pass a new �multiple murder� capital statute the following year. Belachheb died in prison in 2017 of natural causes.
Shooting Details (June 29, 1984, around 12:15 a.m.)
- Belachheb began arguing with a woman on the dance floor, who ultimately shoved him and called him a derogatory name.
- He left briefly, retrieved a Smith & Wesson 459 pistol from his car, returned, and said to the woman, �I�ve had enough with you,� then shot her point-blank.
- He proceeded to walk along the row of bar stools and shot four more patrons.
- He exited, then re-entered the club and fatally shot another man.
- As he fled, he shot a seventh man who survived. He also fired at an employee just outside.
- Five victims died at the scene; the woman died en route to the hospital, and one man survived with serious injuries.
- He was calm both during and after the shooting, was arrested less than two hours later at a friend's house near his car crash site.
Victims (Names & Notes)
- Marcelle Ford � dance partner with whom Belachheb had the initial argument; shot and killed.
- Frank Parker � victim of the shooting.
- Joseph Minasi � victim of the shooting.
- Janice Smith � victim of the shooting.
- Linda Lowe � victim of the shooting.
- Ligia Kozlowski � victim of the shooting.
- One additional man was critically injured but survived; his name is not publicly documented.
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