A 22-year-old man lost his life in a targeted shooting at a gas station in southern Dallas in early March 2021. The victim was later identified as Christian Pollard.
Police were called to the scene around 8:15 a.m. at a Shell station located in the 7000 block of S. RL Thornton Freeway in the Red Bird area. Responding officers found the victim with critical injuries, and he was pronounced dead at the location.
Law enforcement noted during the initial investigation that a dark sedan, described as a black Chevrolet Impala, was seen leaving the vicinity immediately after the shots were fired. Investigators worked to track down the vehicle’s registration and driver. Approximately two weeks later, authorities announced the arrest of a suspect in connection with the homicide.
The suspect was identified as 20-year-old Jataivious Maxwell. He was taken into custody and subsequently charged with first-degree murder. At the time of the arrest, a bond amount of $500,000 was set, according to jail records. Police did not publicly disclose a specific motive for the shooting, nor did they specify whether the suspect and victim had a prior relationship.
The case later entered the judicial phase. After the initial arrest, there were limited updates in the public media regarding the trial’s progress. However, court records indicate that a trial was held in Dallas County later in the spring of 2024. During that proceeding, the defense argued that their client acted in self-defense, claiming the alleged victim had threatened the defendant prior to the encounter.
Following a five-day trial, a jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the murder charge. The specific details of the case, including the exact nature of the threat that led to the shooting, were not widely publicized in mainstream news outlets. The case file indicates that while the defendant faced prosecution, the jury ultimately accepted the self-defense argument.
The original investigation did not identify any other suspects connected to the gas station shooting. In the years since, friends and family of Christian Pollard have posted tributes online to mark the anniversary of his death, highlighting the ongoing impact of gun violence in Dallas. The incident remains a notable case study regarding self-defense claims in serious felony charges. Anyone with further details is still urged to contact Dallas Police or Crime Stoppers.