Amrit Tejan

Amrit Ahmed Tejan was a young man of 21, remembered by his loved ones as a cherished brother and son. His family’s profound grief was captured in a message from his sibling: "I love you bro, always did and always will love you. It hurts so much, but it's only temporary and we will meet again and catch up." His life was cut short in an act of violence that began as an apparent traffic accident in Garland, Texas.

In the early morning hours of Thursday, May 21, 2015, just before 1 a.m., police and emergency services were dispatched to the 4200 block of Bobtown Road. A red, two-door Saturn had veered off the roadway and struck a tree. Inside the vehicle, first responders discovered the driver, Amrit Tejan, deceased. Initially, the scene was treated as a fatal single-car crash. However, a closer examination by investigators revealed a more sinister cause of death. Amrit had not died from the impact of the crash; he had sustained a fatal gunshot wound. The Garland Police Department immediately reclassified the case as a homicide.

Homicide detectives began piecing together the events that led to Amrit’s death. The investigation quickly led them to identify a suspect: 22-year-old Billy Dupree Owens of Dallas. Evidence suggested that Owens had been inside the Saturn with Amrit when the shooting occurred. A week after the discovery, on May 28, 2015, the Garland Police Department issued a murder warrant for Owens's arrest. Police officials stated their belief that Owens was the individual who had caused Amrit's death, though they did not publicly release a motive for the shooting.

In the days following the warrant, authorities launched a public appeal for information on the suspect's location. Billy Dupree Owens was described as armed and dangerous, and the public was warned not to approach him. Garland Crime Stoppers offered a reward of up to $5,000 for any tip that would lead to his capture. News outlets across the Dallas-Fort Worth area circulated Owens's name and the details of the crime, hoping to generate leads for investigators. Officer Joe Harn of the Garland Police Department told reporters, "It appears that both were inside the car, but we're going to have to talk to [Owens] on the details."

Despite the issuance of the arrest warrant and the extensive media coverage, Billy Dupree Owens seemed to vanish. Years have passed since Amrit Tejan was killed, and there have been no public updates regarding Owens's arrest or whereabouts. The reward for information leading to his capture remains available, and the warrant for his arrest is still active.

The case of Amrit Tejan’s murder is a painful, unresolved chapter for his family and the Garland community. He was laid to rest after a viewing and service in early June 2015, but the justice his family seeks remains elusive. As of late 2024, the investigation is ongoing, but it has grown cold. Billy Dupree Owens is still considered a fugitive from justice, wanted for the murder of Amrit Ahmed Tejan. Anyone with information on his location is urged to contact the Garland Police Department or Garland Crime Stoppers at 972-272-TIPS (8477).