Do you know who murdered Arlan Dier White?
Arlan D’Airre White, a 28-year-old Black man known for his fun-loving personality, was a devoted father, son, and brother. His life was deeply rooted in Louisville, Kentucky, where he was surrounded by a large and loving family. He was the father of two sons, Arlan D’Airre White Jr. and Cameron D’Airre Wade. Loved ones remember him as a good man and a good father. He was the son of Sophia and Clifford Wright and a brother to his sister, Arneka White, and his brother, Lavelle O'Bannon. His family circle also included his grandparents, Diane White and Katie Calloway, and his companion, Jameka "Mookie" Woods. Friends recalled knowing him since middle school and remembered his connection to the Madison Street area, a place that was a significant part of his life.
On the summer evening of July 1, 2014, Arlan's life was brought to a violent and tragic end. In the Russell neighborhood of West Louisville, shots were fired at a residence located at 1912 W. Madison Street. When the violence ceased, two people had been shot. Arlan D’Airre White was found at the scene and was pronounced dead. The second victim was injured in the attack, though details about their condition were not publicly released. The shooting marked another instance of gun violence in the city, leaving a family shattered and a community searching for answers.
The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) responded to the scene and their Homicide Unit took charge of the investigation. The case was officially classified as an open homicide, and detectives began the work of piecing together the events that led to Arlan’s death. Despite their efforts, the investigation has been met with a frustrating lack of progress over the years. No suspects have ever been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. The specific details of what transpired that evening, including a motive for the attack, have never been released to the public.
In the days following his death, Arlan’s family and friends gathered to mourn their profound loss. A visitation was held on a Sunday evening, followed by a funeral service the next day at G. C. Williams Funeral Home. The many people who held him dear came to pay their last respects before he was laid to rest in Green Meadows Cemetery. Online condolences painted a picture of a man who was deeply loved. "I have loved you from the time I have known you," one friend wrote. A cousin remembered him as a "good cousin, good father, and good man just a fun loving person." The messages of love and grief underscored the deep void his sudden death left in the lives of those who knew him.
More than a decade has passed since Arlan White was killed, and his case remains unsolved. The investigation is still officially open with the Louisville Metro Police Department, but the trail has grown cold. For his children, parents, and the rest of his family, the pain of his loss is compounded by the absence of justice. There is no reward being publicly offered for information in the case. His family and community continue to hope that one day, new information will emerge that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for his death, finally bringing a measure of closure to a wound that has remained open for far too long.
