Crime
Employee Fatally Shot at Cookie Shop Inside Red Bird Mall, Female Suspect Arrested
UPDATE — A 43-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Jaime Alejandro Rokkett, 53, the owner of Cookies ’N Smoothies, inside The Shops at RedBird on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Dallas Police Department, officers responded to the 3600 block of West Camp Wisdom Road around 4:00 p.m. following reports of a shooting.
Dallas Fire-Rescue also arrived, but Rokkett was pronounced dead at the scene. The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed his identity.
The suspect, identified as Rashonda Lowe, allegedly entered the cookie business and engaged in a conversation with Rokkett that lasted approximately an hour, according to a probable cause affidavit.
DALLAS, TEXAS – A tragic and violent incident unfolded Monday at Red Bird Mall in Dallas, where an employee at a cookie shop was shot and killed following a reported altercation with a customer.
Authorities say the suspect is believed to be a woman who fled the scene in a white SUV later apprehended.
According to eyewitnesses, the suspect entered the cookie shop and engaged in a verbal dispute with an employee.
The argument escalated quickly, and the woman reportedly jumped over the counter, produced a firearm, and shot the employee twice in the head at close range.
Emergency responders arrived shortly after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired inside the mall.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Their identity has not yet been released pending family notification.
Mall stores were immediately placed on lockdown as police secured the area.
A witness who had just exited the mall at the time of the shooting said, “Thank God I was just at the door,” describing the shock and panic among nearby shoppers.
The Dallas Police Department is actively investigating the shooting and working to identify and locate the suspect.
Authorities urge anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Dallas Police Department or Crime Stoppers.
Further updates will be released as the investigation continues.
Crime
Former Texas Worship Minister and Christian Musician Jon Sheptock Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A married Christian musician and former worship minister who once performed at a rally for former President Donald Trump has been arrested on multiple child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges, authorities confirmed.
According to officials, Jon Sheptock, a former minister at First Montgomery Baptist Church, was taken into custody on September 26 by detectives from the Montgomery County Constable’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Unit.
He faces charges of possession and production of child pornography following a detailed investigation into allegations of long-term misconduct.
The arrest was based on testimony from a woman who alleged that Sheptock stole a photograph of her approximately nine years ago, when she was 17 years old.
The victim told investigators that after sending her the image, Sheptock demanded explicit photographs and later sent her a video depicting a violent assault, warning that he “did not want that to happen to her.”
Court records further indicate that Sheptock showed the victim nude images of both adults and minors on his computer.
Investigators allege that the misconduct continued as recently as October 2023, when Sheptock reportedly sent a text message to the victim containing a nude image of young girls.
Before his arrest, Sheptock was widely known as a Christian recording artist and motivational speaker.
His now-deleted website biography stated that he was born without arms and with one leg shorter than the other, yet went on to describe himself as a “thriving Christian recording artist and speaker.” He has been married for 26 years and is the father of three daughters.
In a public statement, First Montgomery Baptist Church confirmed that Sheptock was immediately removed from all ministry responsibilities following his arrest.
The church emphasized that Sheptock did not hold any position involving direct contact with children, and there is no indication that minors associated with the church were involved or affected.
Sheptock gained wider public attention in January 2022, when he performed the national anthem at a rally for then-President Donald Trump, according to The Independent.
If convicted, Sheptock faces a potential prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information to contact the Montgomery County Constable’s Office Human Traffic.