The search is on for two men suspected of gunning down a North Texas rapper and his young daughter at a Forest Hill car wash. NBC 5’s Maria Guerrero has the latest on the investigation into the murders.
Update: Adonis Robinson, one of the named suspects in the car wash shootings, was arrested March 6. That story can be found here. The second suspect, Jakobie Russell, was taken into custody March 7.
Forest Hill police are asking for the public's help tracking down two men in connection with the murders of a man and his young daughter who were gunned down Monday outside of a car wash.
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WATCH HEREForest Hill Police Chief David Hernandez said Wednesday they identified 24-year-old Adonis Yeavon Robinson and 21-year-old Jakobie Dajuan Russell as suspects with the deaths of 30-year-old Ronnie Sibley and his 5-year-old daughter R'Mani.
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SIGN UP Sibley and his daughter were cleaning out his car at Slappy's Express Car Wash on Forest Hill Drive at about 10:45 a.m. on Monday when police said men in a white four-door Kia approached and opened fire.
Despite life-saving attempts, both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
A large crowd gathered at the scene, leading police to call in resources from neighboring agencies to help with crowd control.
Police said they found the Kia but won't say where it was found or what the fugitives may be driving now.
"Now we have identified the two cowards that took the lives of these innocent people," Hernandez said. "They're scared, they're cowards, they're hiding."
Forest Hill police didn't say if they had determined a motive for the shooting or if the suspects and victims knew each other. The investigation into the homicides is ongoing and is being spearheaded by the Texas Rangers.
According to Hernandez, Robinson is a non-compliant sex offender. A search on the state's online registry revealed a man matching Robinson's full name, date of birth, and face tattoo, who was a registered sex offender, convicted in the sexual assault of a 55-year-old woman and sentenced to four years of parole in 2021. The state's online records showed Robinson must be registered as a sex offender until 2034 and is considered a moderate risk level. NBC 5 shared the profile with Hernandez who confirmed he is their suspect in the car wash murders.
Family members told NBC 5 Sibley was a local rapper who performed under the stage name G$ Lil Ronnie. They said he was a good person who loved his two children and didn't bother anyone.
"He didn't target nobody. He was a family man and he was going around rapping. OK?" Sibley's aunt, Stella Houston said. "Why would you target him? Why would you target him? He didn't bother nobody. And a baby? His baby?"
The police chief would not disclose where the child was located at the time of the shooting, whether inside her father's car, or whether she was in plain view of the gunmen.
Hernandez confirmed Sibley's rap career and social media activities are being analyzed by detectives searching for any clues in this case.
Hernandez told NBC 5 he has not seen leaked surveillance video from the car wash of the shooting and asks for the public to refrain from watching or sharing the graphic video and instead come forward with information on the suspects.
“Let the public know there is a threat out there,” said Hernandez. “They are dangerous. They are armed and we need you to please call 911, let our police officers respond and take appropriate action.”
The suspects are charged with capital murder because the case involves the death of more than one person, said Hernandez. If convicted, capital murder could carry the death penalty or automatic life sentences.
'We continue to work diligently to bring the suspects into custody and urge anyone with information related to this case or the whereabouts of Robinson and Russell to contact the Forest Hill Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at 817-531-5250 (Option 5) or by email at policeinvestigations@foresthilltx.org,' said Hernandez in a press release. You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
Editor's Note: Family members said the victim's last name was Smith, police arrest warrant affidavits list the victim's last name as Sibley. This article has been updated to reflect the correct last name.
