18-year-old Dallas woman arrested for murder, after 13-year-old shot at front door

Teen Dallas woman arrested for murder of 13-year-old

Dallas police and U.S. Marshals arrested 18-year-old Saryiah Sanford Griffin for the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Marcus Reeves Jr., who was killed after knocking on a door at a Pin Tail Court residence in March.

DALLAS - An 18-year-old woman was arrested for the murder of a 13-year-old boy in Dallas last month.

What we know:

Marcus Reeves Sr. has always wanted a junior, and he got his wish. 

A blessing to watch his child grow into a teenager, but on March 11, 2026, Reeves Jr. was shot-and-killed after knocking on someone’s front door in Dallas’ Red Bird neighborhood.

Marcus Reeves Jr

On Friday, 18-year-old Saryiah Sanford Griffin was arrested by U.S. Marshals and charged with the 13-year-old’s murder.

 Saryiah Sanford Griffin

The boy’s family does not know why.

"This type of feeling, like, it doesn’t get better, it gets worse every day," said Marcus Reeves Sr. 

Details of the Red Bird neighborhood shooting

What they're saying:

"What could a 13-year-old do or have done to be shot in his head?" asked the father. "We are really trying to figure it out, and we want answers, and we want justice."

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Reeves Jr. went to the suspect’s home, off Pin Tail Court, asking to speak with another juvenile at the home.

"Yeah, he went to knock at the door to see a friend that lives there."

That juvenile and Griffin told police they spoke with Reeves Jr. then closed the door and heard gunshots.

Griffin claims Reeves Jr. was seen lying on the ground outside, so she called 9-1-1.

Police have reason to believe she lied.

Family seeks answers as motive remains unclear

Dig deeper:

According to the arrest warrant, a witness on a video call with the juvenile in the home heard gunshots and yelling, hearing "Saryiah! You shot him!"

The arrest warrant does not explain why the shooting happened, or what words may have been exchanged at that front door.

"I want the younger folks to put their guns down. There are too many young children with guns for no reason," said the father. "Losing a child is a pain it’s hard to get over, it's hard to let go."

Reeves Sr. says he does not know his son’s alleged killer but hopes she’s given a maximum punishment.

"Parents can only do so much, the neighborhood people can only do so much, the police can do so much, but the justice system has got to crack down on it because there are too many kids catching cases and getting away with it or thinking they won’t get life sentences."

What's next:

The bond amount has not been set. It’s also not clear if Griffin and Reeves knew one another or why Reeves was knocking on Griffin’s door.