Shivangi Sinha
In January 2013, police responded to reports of a shooting at Red Rock Bar & Grill in Dallas, Texas. When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered that Waddell Roberts had been shot to death. Investigators quickly began examining surveillance footage from the bar, which provided them with a direct look at the events leading up to the shooting and ultimately helped identify the perpetrator as well. The case is explored in detail in the episode ‘Killer Connection/Bloody Birthday’ from season 15 of A&E’s ‘The First 48.’ The episode follows the investigation step by step and shows how detectives pieced together the evidence to uncover what had happened.
Waddell Roberts Walked Into a Bar and a Man Shot Him Four Times
Waddell Roberts, also known as “Smoove,” was born on March 10, 1982, in Orange County. He was the youngest child of Ann Roberts and Waddell Roberts III and was adored by everyone in the household. His sisters, Gwendolyn, Aretina, Caerisaa, Suswella, and Regina, welcomed their baby brother into their lives with immense love. The siblings remained very close throughout the years. Waddell eventually settled in Dallas, where he became widely known as Smoove the Barber. He had a large extended family living nearby, and they frequently gathered together for family events and celebrations. When Waddell became a father to his son, Waddell “Wddi” Roberts V, his life changed completely, and fatherhood became one of the most important parts of his world.
Waddell made his son the center of his life and worked hard to ensure that the child wanted for nothing. Friends and family said he did everything he could to provide Waddi with a loving, stable, and supportive upbringing. On January 8, 2013, Waddell walked into Red Rock Bar & Grill in Dallas alongside a female friend. However, moments after entering the establishment, he was shot four times near the entrance, and the perpetrator quickly fled the scene. Witnesses immediately contacted police and emergency responders, but by the time authorities arrived, Waddell had already passed away from his injuries.
Waddell Roberts’ Killer Used to Often Visit Him as a Client
One of the things detectives were most grateful for was that a surveillance camera had been positioned directly toward the area where Waddell Roberts was shot. After reviewing the footage, investigators saw that as Waddell entered Red Rock Bar & Grill, a man approached him. Waddell then appeared to remove something from his jacket and hand it over to the individual. Moments later, the man pulled out a gun and opened fire on him. The perpetrator even pointed the weapon toward the victim’s female friend, though the gun did not fire. He then fled the scene. Despite the clear footage, detectives were initially unable to identify the shooter. Investigators then decided to obtain Waddell’s phone records while continuing to interview witnesses connected to the case.
One witness told investigators that the man who fired the shots was Antwon Carter. Detectives also brought in Antwon’s girlfriend, Britteny Cain, for questioning, but she claimed that Antwon had been with her at the time of the shooting and could not have been involved. Meanwhile, police obtained the phone records of Waddell, which revealed that just minutes before the shooting, he had been speaking on the phone with Antwon. The investigation took another turn when a second witness informed detectives that Waddell had been Antwon’s barber and had also allegedly supplied him with marijuana. According to the informant, Antwon had become upset that evening because he was dissatisfied with the product he had received and felt disrespected by the situation, which led to the confrontation.
Investigators also examined Antwon’s cell phone records, which placed him in the area around the time of the shooting. In addition, records from the North Texas Tollway Authority toll booths showed his vehicle passing near the scene only minutes after the incident. The case strengthened even further when Britteny returned to speak with detectives and admitted that she had previously lied for her boyfriend. She told police that Antwon had asked her to provide him with an alibi and revealed that he had arrived at her house well after the shooting, looking nervous and shaken. Detectives also uncovered that Antwon had a criminal history involving assaults and aggravated robberies.
Antwon Carter is Serving His Sentence in Texas Today
In December 2012, Antwon Carter had reportedly been linked to another shooting outside Cain’s home in DeSoto. Ballistics testing later confirmed that the bullets recovered from that incident matched those used in the killing of Waddell Roberts, with forensic experts determining they had been fired from the same weapon. Antwon was initially arrested on felony charges connected to the DeSoto shooting incident. He was later charged with the murder of Waddell, along with additional charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary of a habitation, and injury to a child in unrelated cases.
In 2014, Antwon went on trial for Waddell’s killing. During the proceedings, prosecutors argued that he had killed Waddell over a relatively minor dispute and that his actions that night had been deliberate and calculated. He was ultimately found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years. In 2015, Antwon was also sentenced in the unrelated cases, receiving 20-year sentences on each count to run concurrently. He is currently incarcerated at the Gib Lewis Unit in Tyler County and will first become eligible for parole in 2043.
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