Kelvin Hayes

Kelvin Hayes was a 19-year-old from Fort Worth, Texas, with a promising future ahead of him. Born on June 28, 1999, he was known by loved ones as a young man looking forward to the next chapter of his life. He worked at a local Chicken Express and was just weeks away from starting classes at Tyler Junior College. Remembered fondly by his family, which included four siblings, Kelvin was a beloved son and brother whose life was cut tragically short.

On the evening of August 1, 2018, after finishing his shift at work, Kelvin went to Clyde Pittman Park in Everman, a city about 12 miles south of Fort Worth, to play basketball. At around 9:30 p.m., while on the court, shots rang out. When Everman Police officers arrived, they found Kelvin on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds, surrounded by a large crowd that had gathered at the park. First responders rendered aid at the scene, and he was rushed to a nearby hospital, but his injuries proved fatal. In the immediate aftermath, city workers removed the basketball hoops and draped yellow caution tape around the court where the shooting occurred. The following night, friends and family gathered on that same court to honor Kelvin's memory, releasing balloons into the sky.

The Everman Police Department, with assistance from the Texas Rangers and the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, launched an intensive homicide investigation. Investigators worked through numerous leads, and about two weeks after the killing, they publicly identified a suspect. On August 15, 2018, police issued an arrest warrant for 26-year-old Jhamal Antwan Farris of Fort Worth, charging him with the murder of Kelvin Hayes. Authorities released his description and warned that he should be considered extremely dangerous.

Farris was eventually apprehended and charged with murder. However, at some point following his arrest, he was released from custody after posting bond. The case took a significant turn years later. In November 2023, while still out on bond for Kelvin's murder, Farris was arrested again by a joint task force including the Fort Worth Police Department, Lake Worth Police Department, and the FBI. He and an accomplice were charged in connection with a series of violent armed robberies at commercial businesses in Tarrant County, including a Walgreens pharmacy and a Metro PCS store.

Following his 2023 arrest for the robberies, Farris faced federal charges for interference with commerce by robbery. He pleaded guilty and, in a federal court, was sentenced to 151 months—more than 12 years—in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

As of late 2023, while Jhamal Farris began serving his lengthy federal sentence for the robberies he committed, the state murder charge for the death of Kelvin Hayes was still officially pending. The community and Kelvin's loved ones are still awaiting a final resolution in the case. Anyone with information about the murder of Kelvin Hayes is urged to contact the Everman Police Department at 817-293-2923.