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
Elgin Public Schools Teacher Holly Hill Dies From Complications Two Years After Drinking Poisoned Margarita
ELGIN, Okla. — The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) has launched a formal investigation into the death of Holly Hill, a 30-year-old teacher, wife, and mother from Elgin, Oklahoma, who died last week from long-term medical complications reportedly caused by ingesting a poisoned margarita at a local restaurant in 2023.
OSBI officials confirmed that the investigation began at the request of Comanche County District Attorney Kyle Cabelka following Hill’s death on Thursday.
According to Hill’s family, her health issues began on Valentine’s Day 2023, when she dined at Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill in Elgin.
During the evening, Hill ordered a second margarita that, unbeknownst to her, contained a highly caustic industrial cleaning chemical rather than the intended cocktail ingredients.
“Her mouth was on fire, and she knew something wasn’t right,” recalled Kelly Hunter, Hill’s mother. “She immediately jumped up and ran to the bathroom, started throwing up, and rinsing her mouth out with water.”
The ingestion caused severe internal burns to Hill’s esophagus and digestive tract, leading to two years of intense medical treatment.
Hill underwent more than 60 medical procedures, including repeated esophageal dilations and surgeries, as doctors attempted to repair the extensive damage.
Despite her deteriorating health, Hill continued teaching at Elgin Public Schools, where she was described as a dedicated educator loved by her students and colleagues.
In the days leading up to her death, Hill’s family believed she was finally recovering.
On October 17, doctors reportedly told them that her esophagus appeared to be healing. However, her condition suddenly worsened, and she went into cardiac arrest as medical staff prepared to transfer her. “As they were trying to get her ready to transport her, they lost her pulse,” Hunter said.
Hill’s family previously filed a civil lawsuit against Hacienda Las Margaritas, which was settled confidentially earlier this year, according to their attorney.
Following her death, the family is renewing calls for accountability and public awareness.
“The number one thing we really want at this point is for people to be aware of what happened at that restaurant and to quit supporting them,” Hunter said. “We want them to be held accountable for taking my daughter’s life. It might have been a long fight, but ultimately, they are the cause.”
The restaurant has not issued a recent public statement regarding Hill’s death. In a 2023 social media post, management wrote:
“We have never walked away from responsibility and will continue to support them in any way possible while our insurance company is on the case.”
Local officials confirmed that Elgin Police requested assistance from OSBI, and investigators are now reviewing evidence related to the original 2023 incident and Hill’s recent death.
In a statement, Elgin Public Schools expressed deep sorrow over Hill’s passing, describing her as “an Owl through and through” and asking the community to keep her family in their thoughts and prayers.
Hill leaves behind her husband and young child, as well as a community still reeling from a tragedy that began with what should have been an ordinary night out.