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On a night in late January 2024, a man who was both a barber and a marijuana salesman was operating the businesses out of his uncle’s south Fort Worth apartment, lining up hairlines and weed deals.
A 65-year-old man was getting a haircut at the apartment just after 11 p.m.
The barber-dealer had set up a transaction with Zarion Evans, a person whom he recently met, and was to sell marijuana to Evans and another person for $800, according to the account, later confirmed in text messages, that the barber gave to Fort Worth Police Department detectives and was described in an arrest warrant affidavit.
Evans and a man who police concluded was Zion Johnson arrived at the unit at the Decker apartments in the 3600 block of Oak Tree Circle. After seeing the product, they began the robbery, according to the affidavit.
Evans and Johnson pulled out handguns, pointed them at the seller and his haircut client and demanded the marijuana, police believe.
The suspects also searched a closet and the victims. They took half a pound of marijuana, a Glock handgun, a wallet and a mobile device, according to the affidavit.
The barber and his client were forced at gunpoint into the living room and onto a couch.
Donnell Smith, the barber’s 50-year-old uncle, had been in the living room the entire time.
Smith tried to shoot the two robbers, but they were not hit. Instead, Smith was slain in a shootout. He was found lying on his back on the couch.
The barber, who was 39, and his client were shot and survived.
Evans and Johnson left the apartment after the shooting, according to the affidavit.
Police in February 2024 arrested Evans on suspicion of capital murder.
In an interview with detectives, Evans acknowledged his involvement in the robbery, and said his car was used and that his phone was left behind, according to the affidavit.
Evans admitted that he and Johnson took narcotics and a gun from the victims, according to the affidavit written by Detective Joey McAnally, who worked the case with Paul Vega, now a sergeant who is the commander of the police department’s press office.
In an interview with detectives last week, Johnson admitted to being the second person with Evans during the robbery, according to the affidavit.
Johnson told police he was in the back bedroom of the apartment when the shooting began, and left the scene and lost his shoe. Johnson admitted to having a gun that he said he did not fire.
Johnson was booked into the Tarrant County Jail on Friday with bond set at $500,000. Evans also is in custody of the jail with bond set at $450,000.
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Emerson Clarridge covers crime and other breaking news for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He works days and reports on law enforcement affairs in Tarrant County. He previously was a reporter at the Omaha World-Herald and the Observer-Dispatch in Utica, New York.