David Conley

Case details

David Ray Conley III was the main suspect in a mass shooting in northern Harris County, Texas, near Houston.

Timeline

• August 8, 2015 — A mass shooting occurred inside a home in northern Harris County, Texas, near Houston. Conley allegedly broke into his former home and held hostage Valerie and Dewayne Jackson, along with six children, including his own 13-year-old son.
• August 13, 2015 — Conley recounted aspects of his relationship with Valerie Jackson during interviews while in custody.
• September 28 — Conley requested for a visit by New Black Panther Party leader Quanell X.
• November 17 — Conley was expected to reappear in court.

The offence

On August 8, 2015, Conley allegedly broke into the home of his former girlfriend, Valerie Jackson, in the 2200 block of Falling Oaks Road, in unincorporated northern Harris County, Texas, near Houston.

Valerie Jackson had previously changed the locks on the house. Conley entered through an unlocked window. He confronted Valerie Jackson, her husband, Dewayne Jackson, and their six children with a 9mm handgun, forcing them to the master bedroom. While Conley was distracted, Valerie Jackson was able to text her mother, saying she was being held at gunpoint by him.

Over the course of nine hours, Conley allegedly shot Jackson’s husband and children in the back of the head, with Valerie Jackson forced to witness everything; she was the last victim to be shot. During the course of the shooting, police officers were sent to the home several times to perform welfare checks. The first welfare check occurred at 10:42 a.m. after Jackson’s mother notified dispatchers. Officers knocked on the door and checked the house but reported no response an hour later. Officers returned to the home twice in the afternoon after being alerted by Jackson’s siblings, but they reported no responses during both visits.

It was not made clear if officers attempted to obtain a search warrant that would have allowed them to make a forced entry into the home. During a fourth welfare check at about 6:00 p.m., officers obtained information that a man inside was wanted on a warrant. They began circling the perimeter and spotted a dead body from a window.

Around 8:00 p.m., four police officers forced their way into the home, prompting the suspect to begin firing on them. The officers retreated and waited for backup to arrive. Conley surrendered an hour later.

Victims

Six children and two adults were killed in the shooting, all dying at the scene from gunshot wounds to the head. Some victims were shot multiple times.

The victims were identified as:

• Valerie Jackson (40)
• Dewayne Jackson, Sr. (50)
• Nathaniel Jackson (13)
• Honesty Jackson (11)
• Dewayne Jackson, Jr. (10)
• Caleb Jackson (9)
• Trinity Jackson (7)
• Jonah Jackson (6)

Investigation and pre-surrender events

Police officers were sent to the home several times for welfare checks. The first check occurred at 10:42 a.m. after dispatchers were notified by Jackson’s mother. Officers checked the house but reported no response an hour later. They returned twice in the afternoon after being alerted by Jackson’s siblings but received no responses. During the fourth welfare check at about 6:00 p.m., officers obtained information that a man inside was wanted on a warrant and spotted a dead body through a window while circling the perimeter.

A forced entry was attempted around 8:00 p.m., and officers were met with gunfire. Officers withdrew and waited for backup. Conley surrendered an hour later following a standoff.

Arrest and custody

Conley surrendered after a standoff with police and was held in Harris County Jail.

Conley was identified as the main suspect:

• Suspect David Ray Conley III, age 48

Charges and legal proceedings

Conley did not appear in court at one point while facing proceedings for capital murder charges.

He was charged with three counts of capital murder and had bond denied. Prosecutors announced they were likely seeking the death penalty. Conley was held in Harris County Jail.

Conley was expected to reappear in court on November 17.

Trial

Conley did not appear in court at one stage of the proceedings, and the case remained pending.

Sentencing

No sentencing was stated in the provided material.

Appeals

No appeal outcome was stated in the provided material.

Outcome

Conley remained in prison awaiting trial.

Other details

Family relationships

Conley was described as a former boyfriend of Valerie Jackson. He fathered Nathaniel Jackson, who was among the slain children.

Conley had an estranged wife, Vernessa Conley, and was reported to have been abusive toward her.

Confession and recantation

Hours after the shooting, Conley was contacted by Jackson’s brother, Earl Yanske, after being asked if he killed Jackson. Conley confessed to the familicide at that time after being asked if he killed Jackson. During a jailhouse interview, he recanted his confession and then claimed he was “fed up” with how Valerie and Dewayne Jackson, Sr. were raising his son and their children, which he helped raise. He also claimed the entire family was disrespectful towards him.

Requested meeting with Quanell X

On September 28, Conley requested for a visit by New Black Panther Party leader Quanell X, which was granted. During the meeting, Conley reportedly confessed and shared details of the familicide to Quanell X. Quanell X allegedly became disgusted and cut the meeting short in anger.

Statements and quotations

Conley made statements while in custody, including:

• “I'm not God ... I'm the man of the house.”
• “I love Nate. I love Nate to death.”
• “I understand how it looks, but it’s not like that,”
• “Thou shall respect your mother and father or your days shall be short.”
• “I'm not God, but you know, then, I'm the man of the house.”
• “I’m only human.”
• “I need to ask you a question,”
• “Did you kill my sister?”
• “Yes, I did.”
• “I'm highly spiritual. I'm not crazy. I'm not like that.”
• “They were growing up to be monsters. I'm not saying I killed them because of that. I'm not even saying I killed them.
• “I was doing my part as God asked me to do. God asked me to help them. God says in the Bible thou shall not disrespect thy mother and thy father.”
• “They (she and Dwayne Jackson) did evil stuff all the time.”
• “He'd be in a very happy mood one moment, then the next moment go off,”
• “He was always very controlling and wouldn't let Valerie go out.”
• “taking it too far with belts.”
• “He said he was ‘fed up’ with how Valerie and Dewayne Jackson, Sr. were raising his son and their children”
• “He started to pimp out over me and take everything, rule over my house. How would you feel?”

The quotation attributed to Earl Yanske in describing the call was included in the provided material:

• “I need to ask you a question,” Earl Yanske said.
• “Did you kill my sister?” Earl Yanske asked.
• Conley replied, “Yes I did.”

Evidence and weapon preparation allegations

Conley allegedly began preparations for the familicide sometime after noticing the children’s behavior problems. He purchased online the gun used in the shooting, three magazines of ammunition, and six handcuffs.

Conley also allegedly parked down the street so he would not be seen and broke in through an unlocked window.

Welfare check details

Authorities reported that police officers performed multiple welfare checks and that officers saw a dead body through a window during the perimeter checks.

Criminal history and prior conduct

Conley had an extensive criminal record dating back to at least 1988, including arrests for domestic violence, DUI, and drug possession.

He had prior violent incidents involving Valerie Jackson:

• In 2000, he was arrested and charged for retaliation after a dispute in which he allegedly put a knife to his then-girlfriend, threatened to kill her, her baby and himself. He was sentenced to five years in prison for retaliation.
• In April 2013, a Harris County judge issued an emergency protective order to keep Conley away from Valerie after he was accused of threatening her with a knife. In 2013, he was charged with aggravated assault for threatening the same woman with a knife. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine months in the county jail.

A July 28 incident was described involving an assault relating to Conley allegedly bashing Valerie Jackson’s head repeatedly against a refrigerator as she tried to stop him from disciplining her son with a belt. A warrant for Conley’s arrest was issued, and the case was still pending at the time of the shooting. In the provided material, Conley’s latest charge was assault relating to that July 28 incident.

Conley had previously been arrested and charged in 2000 and 2013 for being violent towards Jackson.

Bipolar disorder

Earl Yanske said Conley suffered from bipolar disorder.

CPS involvement

A preliminary review by Texas Department of Family and Protective Services found the family had “previous CPS involvement.” Officials said they had started to evaluate prior contacts with the family to ensure they were handled appropriately.

Community and memorial

On August 17, a service for the victims was held at Fallbrook Church in northwest Houston and was attended by about 200 people.

A GoFundMe page was set up by Earl Yanske to pay for eight burials. As of Monday, it had received over $11,000 in donations.

Chalk and memorial items were described at the home, including children’s chalk names and a memorial of candles, flowers, and children’s toys.

Identifications after the shooting

In initial reports, the number of dead was sometimes described differently (such as reports indicating five children and three adults were killed), but the provided material consistently identified eight victims by name and age as listed under “Victims.”