She Should Still Be Here: The Unsolved Murder of Shaniah Jones
Dallas, Texas — July 16, 2023
Kekee, the godmother of Shaniah Jones, reached out directly to The Vivid Faces of the Vanished regarding Shaniah’s unsolved homicide.
Shaniah’s mother, Tammy, and the rest of her family have continued living with the pain of losing a young woman who was only 24 years old.
She was a mother of 2.
A daughter.
A friend.
And someone whose children are now growing up without her.
Gunfire Erupted at a South Dallas Block Party
On July 16, 2023, Shaniah was attending a block party near Fair Park in South Dallas when gunfire suddenly erupted.
According to investigators, multiple suspects inside a dark-colored SUV opened fire with semi-automatic weapons.
Bullets tore through the crowd.
Shaniah was struck and killed at the scene.
Four other people were injured but survived.
Authorities later said Shaniah was not the intended target.
She was described as an innocent bystander caught in gunfire that was allegedly meant for someone else.
A Murder Charge Was Filed — Then Dismissed
About a month after Shaniah’s death, 23-year-old Laquest Sirls was indicted by a grand jury and charged with murder.
For Shaniah’s family, the indictment appeared to be the beginning of accountability.
But the case did not hold.
According to Shaniah’s godmother, the charge was later dropped.
In April 2025, the murder charge against Sirls was officially dismissed because prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to continue the case.
That left Shaniah’s family back where they started.
No conviction.
No one held criminally accountable.
And no final answer about who killed her.
Her Family Is Still Fighting for Answers
As of 2026, Shaniah’s murder remains unsolved.
Her family continues grieving while also carrying the frustration of a case that once produced an indictment but ultimately returned to uncertainty.
Kekee reached out to The Vivid Faces of the Vanished because Shaniah’s family still wants answers and accountability.
Tammy lost her daughter.
Shaniah’s children lost their mother.
And the people who loved her are still waiting for someone to come forward with information that can finally move the case forward.
Anyone with information regarding the murder of Shaniah Jones is urged to contact Dallas Crime Stoppers at 214-373-TIPS (8477). Tips may remain anonymous and could qualify for a reward of up to $5,000 if they lead to an arrest and indictment.
© The Vivid Faces of the Vanished