The family of 26‑year‑old Kealon Gilmore is expected to receive roughly $76 million after litigation tied to a deadly trail‑ride concert in southeast Dallas, according to WFAA. Gilmore was killed at the 2022 event, which left more than a dozen people wounded.
WFAA report on the payout
Per WFAA, Gilmore’s family is expected to receive about $76 million. The station’s report did not immediately specify whether the amount represents a settlement, a jury verdict, or insurance proceeds, leaving some key details about how the payout was structured still out of public view.
What happened at the concert
Dallas police say the shooting happened just after midnight on April 3, 2022, at a trail‑ride and outdoor concert in southeast Oak Cliff on the 5000 block of Cleveland Road. Officers found Gilmore near the stage with a fatal gunshot wound. CBS News Texas reported that multiple people were wounded in the burst of gunfire.
Local reporting also noted the event did not have a city permit, a detail authorities highlighted in the immediate aftermath as questions mounted about how the concert was organized and supervised.
City and family lawsuits
The city of Dallas later filed a civil suit that names promoter Germaud Lyons, who goes by "Bossman Bubba," and St. John Missionary Baptist Church, which owns the property used for the event. The Dallas Morning News reports the suit alleges promoters promised 60 security staff, metal detectors, and a bag ban that were not in place, and that the property had been used for unpermitted, poorly supervised parties.
Arrests in the criminal case
In May 2022, Dallas police arrested Astonial Calhoun and Devojiea Givens on charges of felony deadly conduct for allegedly firing into the crowd. Authorities did not immediately charge them with Gilmore’s murder. The arrests and booking were described in local coverage at the time, and the Fort Worth Star‑Telegram reported the two were jailed pending further investigation.
Charges later downgraded
Public reporting shows those felony charges were later reduced. In November 2023, The Dallas Morning News reported that prosecutors dropped the felony counts and the men ultimately faced misdemeanor counts for discharging a firearm in certain municipalities.
Legal questions ahead
Wrongful‑death claims in Texas can include economic and non‑economic damages and, in some cases, punitive awards, but recoveries often turn on available insurance, defendants' assets, and statutory limits. A legal overview of Texas wrongful‑death law notes those awards and procedural rules that shape what families can ultimately collect. FindLaw explains the types of damages and some limits under state law.
Beyond the initial report from WFAA, public court filings or a posted judgment confirming the $76 million figure were not immediately located. We will monitor dockets and filings and update when official records or statements from the parties are available.
