Unsolved Amarillo Homicide: New Arrest Made In Year-Long Investigation

Although Amarillo, Texas saw a decline in homicides in 2023, the first murder of the year stumped police for over a year.

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On Thursday, January 26th at 5:45 AM the Amarillo Police Department received a call about gunshots in the 4100 block of South Travis. When APD arrived at the scene, they found 24-year-old Markell Damarion Toombs-Reed lying in the street with a gunshot wound. Unfortunately, Mr. Toombs-Reed was pronounced dead at the location of the shooting.

Carla Burr

At the time, APD did not have a suspect in the Toombs-Reed murder. In October 2023, the Amarillo Police Department asked for the help of the public to identify the suspect. During the investigation, it was found that the suspect's vehicle was seen on camera. According to the video evidence obtained shows multiple people were involved in the murder. APD has photographic evidence of the suspects getting out of the suspected vehicle.

An Arrest was Finally Made

On Thursday, January 11, 2024, an arrest was made in connection with the murder of Toombs-Reed. Kevin Fortuna, male, age 18 was arrested for On View Murder and Tampering with Physical Evidence. He was booked into the Randall County Sheriff's Detention Center. Although an arrest was made, the investigation is still ongoing.

APD Still Needs Information

If you have any information about this homicide you are encouraged to call the Amarillp Police Homicide Unit at 806-378-9468 or call Homicide Detective Sgt. Cory Jones at 806-378-4084.

LOOK: A Welcome Decline in Homicides for Amarillo in 2023

The year 2023 closed out with a reported 16 homicides for Amarillo, Texas. And out of these 16 cases, three are open investigations. The tally comes as a welcome decline after the concerning surge of reported murders in 2021 and 2022.

**Note from the Editor: The following is not an exhaustive list. We have compiled what you see below from news reports, official police statements, along with where the case stands in the court system. If you see any errors in reporting or fact, please email the editor directly at sarah.clark@townsquaremedia.com along with any supporting documents.

We wish to stress that all individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

***This list does not include the open cases for Markell Toombs-Reed and Jarvurian Penns

Gallery Credit: Sarah Clark/TSM

All the Most Wanted Fugitives and Sex Offenders Captured in Texas in 2023

Texas is a big state and with that kind of size, one can expect to have many people on the run from the law. Here are all the most wanted fugitives and sex offenders who were captured in 2023 with some with the help of tips given through Crime Stoppers.

LOOK: 12 Unsolved Homicides by the Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers currently have 12 homicides that have gone cold and have not been solved or the suspect apprehended. These cases stem back to 1978.

If you have any information regarding any of the homicides below you are encouraged to call Texas Crimestoppers at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) or you can submit a tip online here.

Gallery Credit: Lori Crofford/TSM Amarillo