2022 deadly year for Wichita Falls, with 18 homicides by end of October (2024)

The year 2022 has been an unusually bloody and violent year in Wichita Falls.

By the end of October the city had recorded 18 homicides, which is the largest number in at least 20 years.

Homicide and murder are sometimes misconstrued as being the same thing. They are not. Under law, a homicide is the taking of a life by another person. That can include justifiable killings and manslaughter as well as murder.

Here are the homicides so far in 2022:

2022 deadly year for Wichita Falls, with 18 homicides by end of October (1)

Feb. 1 – Justifiable homicide

Dustin Davidson, 29, had arrest warrants when Wichita Falls Police stopped him at the Walmart on Lawrence Road. An investigation determined that Davidson opened fire on officers when they tried to stop the vehicle he was in. Officers returned fire. Davidson was killed and a woman driving the vehicle suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Feb. 12 – Capital murder

Floyd Kirt, 51, was shot and killed as he worked as a clerk in the Stripes convenience store at 2200 Southwest Parkway.Tajmon Laterrance Robison, 22, was arrested six days later and charged with capital murder. He awaits trial.

April 20 – Murder

Zoe Brewer, 20, was found dead in her home of a fentanyl overdose. Jakob Blankenship was arrested Aug. 29 and charged with murder in the case. He is jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.

May 21 – Murder

Zachary Wood was beaten to death at a home at 2100 Brown Street.William Andrew Bell, Payton Mackenzie Collier, Ashley Marie Esselborn and Ronnie Preston Lang, Jr.were indicted in the case. Lang pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. Bell was released on $200,000 bail. Collier remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bail. Esselborn remains jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail.

2022 deadly year for Wichita Falls, with 18 homicides by end of October (2)

May 22 – Murder

Andrew Lopez, 32, was found dead in his pickup with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. No arrests have been made and the case remains open.

June 1 – Murder

Andrew Gable, 15, died from a gunshot wound at a hospital. Police determined he was shot in the vicinity of 23rd and Grace streets during a marijuana transaction. A 16-year-old juvenile was arrested the following day. Isaiah Rey Sims, 17, was arrested June 7. Both Sims and the juvenile were charged with capital murder. Sims remains jailed in lieu of $1.5 million bail.

June 4 – Manslaughter

Justin Feliciano, 40, was killed when a car struck his motorcycle at the intersection of Avenue O and Kemp Boulevard. Although considered a homicide, the case is listed as closed.

June 8 – Capital murder (counts as two cases)

Kaycee Wofford, 19, was 39 weeks pregnant when she was found dead in a house at 1621 Deer Parkway. The victim’s husband, Paul Chandler, claimed an intruder was responsible. However, Chandler was arrested and charged June 9 with Capital Murder of Multiple Persons. He awaits trial in the Wichita County Jail in lieu of $1.5 million bail.

June 21 – Murder

Paul Matthew Day was shot to death near Scotland Park Elementary School. Jason Christopher Myers, who said he believed the victim was bothering children at the school, was charged. He was released on $100,000 bail July 11.

2022 deadly year for Wichita Falls, with 18 homicides by end of October (3)

June 25 – Double capital murder (counts as two cases)

Mark Barnett, 52, andConcepta St. Hilaire, 52, were found shot to death in the driveway of a home at 220 Cartwright Lane. The suspect, Jason St. Hilaire, 50, was found dead of a gunshot wound in a nearby vehicle. Because it was determined to be a double murder and suicide, the case was closed.

July 15 – Murder

Andres Diaz, 21, died July 15 in a Wichita Falls Hospital from a fentanyl overdose. Jasinto Jimenez, 21, and Leigha Ruth Smith, 22, were charged with providing the drug. Smith remains jailed in lieu of $500,000 bail and Jimenez is jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.

July 24 – Manslaughter/Intoxication Manslaughter with Vehicle

Michael Lynn Little, 33, was killed when he was thrown from a speeding pickup in the 800 block of northbound Lloyd Ruby Overpass. Bryan Hernandez, 36, was charged. He is jailed in lieu of $175,000 bail.

Aug. 1 – Murder

Cordera Sherrard Walker, 34, was found shot to death in the parking lot of the Haystack nightclub in the 300 block of Scott Avenue. No arrests have been made in the case.

2022 deadly year for Wichita Falls, with 18 homicides by end of October (4)

Oct. 1 – Murder

Jorge Gonzalez was found shot to death in a parking lot of a convenience store in the 1500 block of North Eighth Street. Adan Chavez was arrested and booked on Oct. 22. He remains in jail in lieu of $1 million bail.

Oct. 26 – Murder

James Shierling, 70, was found murdered in his apartment at 1317 11th St. Police have not released a cause of death and no arrest has been made.

Oct. 27 – Murder

Michael Dewayne Allen, 45, was shot to death in the front yard of a home in the 700 block of Welch Street. Another man was wounded. Police issued a warrant for Sidney Donnell Garcia, 28, in connection with the case.

2022 deadly year for Wichita Falls, with 18 homicides by end of October (2024)

FAQs

2022 deadly year for Wichita Falls, with 18 homicides by end of October? ›

The year 2022 has been an unusually bloody and violent year in Wichita Falls. By the end of October the city had recorded 18 homicides, which is the largest number in at least 20 years. Homicide and murder are sometimes misconstrued as being the same thing.

What is the crime rate of Wichita Falls? ›

Wichita Falls Annual Crimes
ViolentProperty
Number of Crimes4933,003
Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents)4.8029.25

Is Wichita Falls, TX a good place to live? ›

Wichita Falls is a city in Texas with a population of 102,482. Wichita Falls is in Wichita County and is one of the best places to live in Texas. Living in Wichita Falls offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Wichita Falls there are a lot of bars and parks.

Where does Wichita rank in crime? ›

With a crime rate of 44 per one thousand residents, Wichita has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 23.

Which city has the worst crime rate? ›

The article explores the 10 most dangerous cities in the United States for the year 2024 based on data analysis of violent crime rates, including homicide, robbery, and assault. Detroit, Michigan, tops the list with a staggering violent crime rate, followed by cities like Memphis, Tennessee, and Baltimore, Maryland.

Who is famous from Wichita Falls Texas? ›

  • Christiane Seidel. Actress. Producer. ...
  • Phyllis Coates. Actress. Additional Crew Superman and the Mole-Men (1951) ...
  • Dave Willis. Writer. Actor. ...
  • Rob Bowman. Producer. Director. ...
  • Tommy Tune. Actor. Additional Crew. ...
  • Shaunie O'Neal. Producer. Writer. ...
  • Frances Reid. Actress Days of Our Lives (1965–2007) ...
  • Roberta Haynes. Actress.

Why is Wichita Falls so famous? ›

By the 1950's Wichita Falls carried the nickname of "Factory City," for having over 100 manufacturing companies, 127 wholesale outlets and 741 retail stores.It wasn't all work for Wichitans, though, as early as 1909, area citizens enjoyed movies, vaudeville acts, live theatre and concerts at the Wichita Opera House, ...

Why are people moving to Wichita Falls? ›

Lower Cost of Living

To put this in simpler terms, the cost of living in Wichita Falls are about half of those in the rest of the state. On top of that, housing costs in the city are less than half of the national average, which makes it easier to find affordable housing with the amenities you want.

Is Wichita Falls in TX or OK? ›

Wichita Falls, city, seat (1882) of Wichita county, northern Texas, U.S. The city is located on the Wichita River in the Red River Valley, 115 miles (185 km) northwest of Fort Worth.

What is the safest place to live in Texas? ›

Cities like Fulshear, Hutto, San Elizario, Fairview, and Trophy Club, along with safe neighborhoods in major urban areas, offer peace of mind and a high quality of life. However, no place is entirely free from risks, and it's essential to stay vigilant and know where to turn for help if needed.

What percent of Wichita is white? ›

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Wichita, KS are White (Non-Hispanic) (61.6%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (9.69%), White (Hispanic) (7.4%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (5.48%), and Other (Hispanic) (4.75%).

What are the cons of living in Wichita? ›

Cons of living in Wichita
  • Limited public transportation options. ...
  • Extreme weather conditions. ...
  • Limited nightlife and entertainment options. ...
  • Traffic congestion. ...
  • Limited job diversity in certain industries. ...
  • Limited public green spaces in urban areas. ...
  • Limited public investment in infrastructure and amenities.
Mar 25, 2024

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