ORANGE, Texas — November 4, 2025 — Authorities in Orange, Texas, have arrested 28-year-old Octaviun Romaine Rhodes in connection with a fatal shooting that claimed the life of 36-year-old Dupri Booker of Pinehurst late Tuesday night. The tragic incident unfolded at the Velma Jeter Manor apartment complex on Allie Payne Road, shaking residents and leaving the community stunned.
According to the Orange Police Department, officers were dispatched to the complex around 10:30 p.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire. When officers arrived, they discovered Booker suffering from a gunshot wound in one of the apartment walkways. Despite the quick response of emergency personnel, Booker was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives immediately launched an investigation, canvassing the area for witnesses and reviewing security footage from the apartment complex. Preliminary findings suggest that Rhodes and Booker were involved in a confrontation that escalated into gunfire. Authorities have not yet disclosed the nature of their relationship or what sparked the altercation, but they confirmed that the shooting was not random.
After several hours of investigation and cooperation from witnesses, police identified Rhodes as the primary suspect. He was located early Wednesday morning and taken into custody without incident. Rhodes has since been charged with murder and booked into the Orange County Jail, where he remains held on bond pending his first court appearance.
Orange Police Chief Lane Martin commended responding officers and detectives for their swift action in apprehending the suspect. “This was a senseless act of violence that resulted in the loss of a life,” Chief Martin said in a statement. “Our officers worked diligently through the night to ensure the suspect was identified and taken off the streets quickly.”
The family of Dupri Booker is now left grappling with unimaginable grief. Loved ones describe him as a caring and hardworking man who was deeply loved by his friends and relatives. “Dupri didn’t deserve this,” one family member said. “He had so much life ahead of him, and our hearts are shattered.”
Neighbors at Velma Jeter Manor say the incident has left the community shaken. Many expressed concerns about rising violence and the need for stronger safety measures in residential areas. “You never expect something like this to happen right outside your door,” one resident told reporters. “Everyone’s just trying to process it.”
The Orange Police Department has confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to gather evidence and speak with additional witnesses to determine the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Authorities are urging anyone with further information about the case to contact the Orange Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 409-833-TIPS.
As the community mourns the loss of Dupri Booker, friends and family are planning a candlelight vigil later this week to honor his memory and call for an end to the senseless violence that has once again left Orange grieving.
Leave a Reply