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1 dead, 3 injured in Gas Pipe smoke shop shooting in Dallas

03:46 PM CST on Wednesday, December 31, 2008

By STEVE THOMPSON / The Dallas Morning News

A former convict and a graphic designer were among the wounded after three gunmen entered a smoke shop in Far North Dallas and opened fire, killing one person and injuring three.


Police said they could not immediately pinpoint a motive for the Tuesday night shooting at the Gas Pipe in the 18600 block of Marsh Lane, just north of Frankford Road in Denton County.

About 10 people were in the store, which sells rolling papers, pipes and other items, when the gunmen entered through the front door about 9 p.m. and started shooting.

"The first guy opens the door, and he has a gun," Dallas police Sgt. Bruce McDonald said. "The second guy walks up, takes the gun from him, and steps in and begins firing."

"They don't ask for money. They don't say anything to anyone. They just open fire," Sgt. McDonald said. "We have no idea what the motive was."

One shooter wore a bandanna. The gunmen, who did not rob the store, then fled on foot.

"We don't have any serious leads. We are in the process of gathering evidence, hopefully we can get some ballistics evidence," Sgt. McDonald said.

An 18-year-old Mount Vernon woman, Rabeca Rae Kemp, was killed. She did not work at the Gas Pipe, police said. She was inside the store with her boyfriend, who was not shot. Together, they were visiting a relative in the area.

Critically wounded was 60-year-old James Caldwell, a store employee. Two others, 36-year-old Holly Arceneaux of Plano and 24-year-old Michael Matise of Dallas, were at Parkland Memorial Hospital with injuries not thought to be life-threatening.
18600 block of Marsh Lane in Dallas

Mr. Caldwell, who was shot in the abdomen, had only been working at the shop about a week, said his son, Loren Caldwell.

"He's still in and out of consciousness," he said. "But they think he's going to make it."

Loren Caldwell said his father, who was released from a federal prison two years ago after serving about 18 years, has been saving money to self-publish a book about his life.

The book, Wrong Decisions, is about his years in the drug business, which culminated in his involvement in a 2-ton marijuana bust for which he was sentenced to life in prison, said his friend Barry Phillips.

"It’s quite a remarkable story. He's really quite a remarkable person," Mr. Phillips said.

Asked if Mr. Caldwell may have been targeted by the shooters for his drug ties, his son said he thought not.

"There's absolutely no way that he knew who those people were, or they knew him," Loren Caldwell said. "Zero chance."

Ms. Arceneaux, a graphic designer, was in the store to make a purchase, said her brother, Matt Arceneaux. She was released from Parkland today.

"She's doing good, from what I know," he said. "She's at my parents’ [house], resting."

Carter Heltzen said his girlfriend and her brother were inside the store when the shots were fired. Mr. Heltzen said his girlfriend’s brother called him within minutes of the shooting and said they were not injured.

Investigators were trying to determine how many shots were fired. Police did not have a detailed description of the shooters.

"We just don't know," Sgt. McDonald said. "We don't know if there's been any kind of prior disturbance. We don’t know why they targeted this place, if they were targeting the business or an individual. We’re just not sure right now, not until we get more information. But we don't believe robbery appears to be the motive."

Anyone with information can contact Dallas police at homicide@dpd.dallascityhall.com or call 214-671-3661.