ARLINGTON, Texas — The Arlington Police Department has announced an arrest in the December 2019 shooting death of 22-year-old Evan Lacey.
Following a years-long investigation, homicide detectives obtained a warrant charging 22-year-old Darnell Jones II with murder. On May 25, 2025, with the assistance of the Chicago Police Department, Jones was located in Chicago, Illinois, and taken into custody without incident. He was extradited to Tarrant County on June 6, 2025, where he declined to speak with detectives.
Lacey was last seen leaving his Arlington home on the morning of December 17, 2019. Four days later, Fort Worth Police found his abandoned vehicle with a significant amount of blood inside. On January 3, 2020, utility workers discovered Lacey’s body in a wooded area along the 7100 block of Webb Ferrell Road. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide, caused by a gunshot wound to the head.
Detectives reviewing phone records learned that Lacey’s cell phone had been in contact with a number later linked to Jones on the day he disappeared. Records showed both phones traveled together from December 17 to 18, near the area where Lacey’s body was later recovered.
Investigators also received multiple tips naming Jones as a possible suspect. DNA evidence collected from Lacey’s car showed a mixture of profiles, including Lacey’s and an unknown male. At the time, labs were unable to separate the DNA sufficiently to make a comparison with a swab obtained from Jones.
In March 2025, detectives consulted with a lab that had developed new forensic techniques capable of isolating mixed DNA profiles. By April, the lab confirmed a match to Jones.
“Our detectives hit many roadblocks throughout this investigation, but they never gave up,” said Arlington Police Chief Al Jones. “I’m proud of the outstanding police work they did and the proactive measures they took to identify the new technologies that ultimately helped us solve this case. It’s my hope this news provides Mr. Lacey’s family with some relief and closure they’ve desperately waited for.”
The case remains under investigation.
