Homicide Investigation - Report #2025-01530802
Published on June 30, 2025
By Arlington Police Department
The Arlington Police Department has made an arrest in connection to the June 2, 2025 death of Desmond McKay, who was shot multiple times in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 2700 block of Castle Gardens Drive and was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Following a thorough investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for the arrest of 24-year-old Jahlen Owen on one count of Capital Murder. He was taken into custody at the Ott Cribbs Public Safety Center on June 29, 2025 and was booked into the Arlington City Jail. He has since been transferred to the Tarrant County Jail.
In the aftermath of the shooting, detectives spoke to several witnesses and other individuals who knew Mr. McKay. They learned the night of the shooting, Mr. McKay told multiple people he was hanging out with a friend from welding school. After further investigation, detectives identified this individual as Mr. Owen.
Detectives believe the two young men traveled to the Castle Gardens Drive location in Mr. McKay’s vehicle to go pick up another friend who lived there. The shooting occurred before they made it to the friend’s apartment.
Witnesses reported that the shooter left the scene in Mr. McKay’s vehicle immediately following the shooting. Mr. McKay’s vehicle was recovered the next day at a location in Dallas, which detectives later learned was across the street from Mr. Owen’s home.
Detectives continued to pursue leads involving Mr. Owen. On June 29, 2025, they were notified that Mr. Owen came to the Ott Cribbs Public Safety Center and told the front desk officer he wanted to speak to detectives about a murder case.
Mr. Owen voluntarily waived his rights and agreed to speak with detectives. During the interview, he confessed to the shooting and provided multiple corroborating details. Detectives then obtained the arrest warrant and took Mr. Owen into custody.
ORIGINAL RELEASE
The Arlington Police Department is investigating an overnight shooting that resulted in the death of a 19-year-old man.
On Monday, June 2, 2025, at approximately 10:56 p.m., officers responded to an apartment complex in the 2700 block of Castle Gardens Drive to investigate reports of shots fired. When they arrived on scene, they found the 19-year-old lying unresponsive in the parking lot with multiple apparent gunshot wounds. The young man was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased from his injuries.
Witnesses told officers the victim and another individual arrived at the complex together in a car. The victim reportedly got out of the vehicle, at which point, the other individual attempted to drive away. The victim then ran back towards the car and tried to prevent the driver from leaving. During the ensuing struggle, multiple shots were fired. The suspect then drove away from the scene.
Detectives later learned the car, a 2016 Chrysler 200, belonged to the victim. With assistance from the APD Real Time Crime Center, they tracked the vehicle to a location in Dallas where it was recovered Tuesday morning.
Detectives are currently following up on leads, working to identify the suspected shooter. No arrests have been made at this time.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to call Detective Stafford at (817) 459-5739. Tipsters can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County at (817) 469-8477.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the name of the deceased.