Erin LaJames Graham, 28, was shot once in the chest at the 8th & Corinth Station; an 18-year-old is accused of murder.
DALLAS, Texas — A young father was killed in front of his fiancée and children late Thursday at the 8th & Corinth DART Station, and an 18-year-old accused shooter is in the Dallas County Jail on a murder charge, authorities said.
Investigators identified the victim as Erin LaJames Graham, 28. The shooting, which happened about 9:40 p.m., did not occur on a train but on the station property a stop south of the Dallas Zoo, transit police said. The case has stirred fresh concern about safety on trains and platforms after two deadly rail shootings earlier this fall. Police said the suspect, identified as Demetrius Rogers, was arrested and booked on a murder count. As relatives prepared funeral plans, riders at the South Dallas hub questioned what more authorities can do to keep guns and conflicts off platforms.
An arrest affidavit describes a short exchange moments before the gunfire. As Rogers and his brother passed by, Rogers said, “Excuse me.” Police wrote that Graham answered, “excuse you,” which Rogers told investigators upset his brother and led him to believe a fight was coming. Rogers admitted pulling a handgun and firing once into Graham’s chest, according to detectives. The fiancée said she tried to stop the confrontation and then tried to find an exit wound while children stood feet away. Paramedics took Graham to a hospital, where he died. “He didn’t deserve any of that,” she said, calling the loss “unthinkable” for the children who watched.
Rogers, 18, remained jailed Friday with no bond listed in county records at the time of booking. Police did not immediately list a defense attorney for him. Detectives said they interviewed witnesses and reviewed station cameras; they have not described any prior relationship between the men. Officials declined to say whether a recovered firearm was registered to Rogers or anyone else, and they did not release ballistic testing results. The Dallas County Medical Examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death. Family members said Graham was a father of two daughters and a stepfather to three children who loved to cook, host barbecues and keep music on while he worked in the kitchen.
The killing comes after a series of high-profile violent cases involving DART. In late September, 53-year-old restaurant manager Daniel Gormley was shot and killed aboard a train near Market Center Station after a night out, according to prior police accounts and tributes from his workplace. In early October, a rider was fatally shot on a train near the Pearl/Arts District Station; a suspect was later arrested in that case. Transit officials said they expanded patrols and emphasized that trains and platforms are covered by surveillance cameras used in investigations. Riders, however, have pressed for clearer updates on what additional security changes may follow the latest death.
Prosecutors are expected to review the murder complaint against Rogers and decide on formal charges after receiving police reports, video and the medical examiner’s findings. If indicted by a grand jury, the case would move to arraignment and pretrial hearings in a Dallas County court. DART officials said a public briefing on safety measures could be scheduled after the holidays, though no date has been announced. Any future court dates for Rogers will appear in county dockets once set by a judge.
By Friday afternoon, a handful of candles and flowers sat on the platform edge. Commuters hurried past, some pausing to glance at the memorial. “It was one shot, then yelling,” said a neighbor who lives within earshot of the station. Another regular rider said she is changing where she waits and rides during off-peak hours. Graham’s fiancée remembered him as the person who grilled, played dominoes and kept family gatherings moving. “He would give the shirt off his back,” she said.
Rogers remained in custody as detectives continued interviews and evidence review. Officials said more details will be released as charging decisions and autopsy results are finalized.
Author note: Last updated December 21, 2025.