An arrest has been made in connection with the killing of an Army veteran on a sidewalk in the 2200 block of McKinney Avenue.
On Dec. 26, Dallas police arrested 45-year-old Corey Antwon Thompson in the 2600 block of Vickers Street on suspicion of killing 46-year-old Roderick Damon Butler on Dec. 20. The suspect is being held on $1.2 million bail. To the Dallas Police Department.
It is unclear how Thompson was found.
NBC 5 interviewed the family of 46-year-old Roderick Damon Butler shortly after he was killed on Dec. 20 around 5 p.m.
Relatives spent the day comforting the mother, Tony Butler, in her Fort Worth home, which was filled with photos of her three sons.
“I told the police it felt like I was in a dream and I needed to wake up,” she said.
Roderick was her second son. She talks to him almost every day, she said.
“Roderick was a kind and caring person. He was an artist and really smart. He loved to rap,” she said.
Roderick is familiar with the Uptown Dallas area, where the shootings occurred, his mother said. His brother, Brent Butler Jr., said Roderick attended open mics and other events in Uptown Dallas.
“I keep wondering if I'll ever be able to reach him or if he'll ever reach out to me. It really hurts to know that he was taken that way. We all have those times. I know that, but no one expects it to happen so violently and suddenly. That's the difficult part,” the brother said.
The shooting occurred across the street from the Crescent office, hotel and shopping complex. Restaurants, stores and a Wells Fargo Bank branch are located in the same strip mall where the victim was found.
His relatives hope the surveillance cameras in the downtown area will help solve crimes.
Police said the gunman was seen running toward Maple Avenue. Roderick Butler was taken to Baylor Dallas Medical Center, where he died.
“I got a call from the hospital, and then a detective called me and told me to come see him instead of going to the hospital,” Brent Butler said.
Roderick was a military veteran with mental health issues and had been homeless, his mother said. She said he moved into an apartment in southeast Dallas nearly two years ago and is no longer homeless.
“He also put in a lot of effort to better himself. And that's why he was there. He didn't harm anyone. Roderick was actually the victim,” Tony said. Butler said. “I don't know why.”
His mother and brother said they spoke out Thursday in hopes of drawing more attention to the case and catching the culprit.
“I think it would give my mom peace of mind to know what happened and if that person is in jail,” Brent Butler said.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Dallas Police Department Detective Swanson at 469-934-5776 or email laurent.swanson@dallaspolice.gov.
