Beaumont Police Obtain Murder Warrant In Nearly 13-Year-Old Cold Case

BEAUMONT, Texas – Beaumont police have obtained a murder warrant in a nearly 13-year-old cold case homicide after renewed investigative efforts identified a suspect in the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old man.

According to the Beaumont Police Department, detectives secured a murder warrant on Jan. 22, 2026, for 33-year-old Dimitri TJ Oliver in connection with the 2013 killing of Cody Crabtree. Oliver was 20 years old at the time of the homicide.

Police said the shooting occurred April 11, 2013, at about 3:40 p.m. in the 2500 block of Primrose. Officers responding to a reported shooting found Crabtree suffering from gunshot wounds in the parking lot of an apartment complex. He was transported to a local hospital, where he died the following day.

Investigators determined that Crabtree had driven into the apartment complex in his pickup truck and made contact with another vehicle occupied by multiple individuals. A verbal disturbance followed, during which Crabtree was shot. Police said both vehicles, Crabtree’s pickup and a dark four-door car, fled the scene at a high rate of speed. Crabtree’s vehicle was later found abandoned.

The homicide remained open and active in the years following the shooting. Police said the case was recently reassigned to a new detective, who conducted additional follow-up work, re-interviewed witnesses, and continued pursuing leads. Those efforts led to a breakthrough and the identification of Oliver as a suspect.

The investigation remains ongoing. Detectives are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact the Beaumont Police Department at 409-832-1234 or Southeast Texas Crime Stoppers at 409-833-TIPS (8477).