Police say the deaths followed a fight near a popular nightlife corridor in Dallas.
DALLAS, TX — A fight outside a Deep Ellum nightclub turned into a deadly stabbing early Saturday, leaving two men dead and a 27-year-old suspect arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder, Dallas police said.
The stabbings happened after closing time in one of Dallas’ busiest late-night areas, where crowds spill from bars and clubs into nearby streets. Police said the victims were found injured near North Good Latimer Expressway and were rushed to a hospital, where both died. The suspect was treated for a minor injury and then taken to jail as investigators worked to piece together the moments leading up to the confrontation.
Officers were called at about 1:35 a.m. Feb. 7 to the 400 block of North Good Latimer Expressway, a stretch of roadway that borders Deep Ellum and runs near the neighborhood’s rail station and nightlife spots. Police said they arrived to a report of a stabbing and found two men suffering from serious wounds. The men were identified as Alyshah Punjani, 28, and Adrian Williams Jr., 30. Both were transported to a local hospital, where they later died, police said.
Detectives said their preliminary investigation showed the stabbings took place during a fight in the nearby 2600 block of Floyd Street, a short walk from the expressway. Police said the suspect, Sergio Naffarratte, 27, stabbed both men during that fight. Officers later took Naffarratte to a hospital to be treated for a minor cut, police said. After he was released from medical care, authorities booked him into the Dallas County Jail and charged him with two counts of capital murder.
The case is being investigated as a double homicide, and police emphasized that early details could change as detectives review evidence and interview witnesses. In a statement released by the department, investigators said they were still working to determine what started the fight, how many people were involved, and whether the men knew each other before the confrontation. Police did not release information about what kind of weapon was used, how many times either victim was stabbed, or whether surveillance video captured the attack.
Police also did not describe where the fight began, other than saying it occurred near Floyd Street and that officers were dispatched to North Good Latimer Expressway after the stabbing was reported. The area includes a mix of clubs, restaurants, parking lots and short side streets that fill with late-night traffic on weekends. The location named by police is also close to the Deep Ellum station, a Dallas Area Rapid Transit stop at 450 North Good-Latimer Expressway that serves as a gateway into the entertainment district.
Deep Ellum, east of downtown, draws thousands of visitors on weekend nights for live music and bar crowds. The neighborhood’s popularity can also bring tight streets, heavy rideshare traffic and disputes that flare quickly when people are drinking and moving between venues. Dallas police routinely increase patrols in entertainment areas during weekends and special events, and investigators often rely on camera footage from nearby businesses, phone video recorded by bystanders, and witness statements to reconstruct a fast-moving fight.
Authorities said the investigation remained ongoing Sunday and that detectives were still seeking information from anyone who saw the fight or the stabbing. Police asked witnesses to contact Detective D. Grubbs, who is assigned to the case. In the department’s public notice, the investigation was documented under case number 017633-2026. Police did not announce a court date for Naffarratte, and it was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
The capital murder charges reflect the fact that two people were killed, according to the department’s booking announcement. Under Texas law, the charge can apply in certain killings involving multiple victims in the same criminal episode. Police have not publicly described what they believe led Naffarratte to stab the two men, whether the deaths followed a single clash or separate confrontations during the same fight, or whether any other weapons were involved. No other arrests were announced in the case.
In the hours after the incident, investigators worked near the expressway and along surrounding blocks as weekend nightlife continued in nearby areas. Patrol cars blocked off parts of the street while officers looked for evidence and spoke with people who were in the area at the time. Dallas police did not release details about the scene, but officials said the victims were discovered after the reported stabbing call and that both were in critical condition when officers arrived.
Friends and witnesses were not identified by police, and no family statements were released as of Sunday afternoon. Online posts about the stabbing spread quickly in the hours after the deaths, with some residents urging others to share any video they may have captured downtown. Police cautioned that they rely on verified witness accounts and evidence collected in the investigation, and they said tips from the public can help confirm a timeline and identify additional people involved in the fight.
As the case moves forward, detectives are expected to continue gathering surveillance footage from nearby businesses and reviewing any emergency calls and officer body-camera video connected to the response. Prosecutors will decide how the case proceeds through the court system, including whether the charges are amended as more facts are established. For now, police said the suspect remained jailed and the investigation into the fight and stabbings was active.
Author note: Last updated February 9, 2026.