Tragedy struck the Ethiopian community in Dallas this morning when police found Ato Yayehyirad Lemma and Wzr. Yenenesh Desta lying dead in front of their home. The husband and wife were owners of the popular Desta Ethiopian Restaurant in Dallas, Texas.
(NBCDFW) — The shooting happened at a home on the 5700-block of Marquita Drive, near lower Greenville Avenue.
Dallas police told NBC 5 that they found a woman and man, later identified as 31-year-old Yenenesh Desta and 40-year-old Yayehyirad Lemma, lying dead in front of the home.
Police believe the two were coming home from work when they were shot and killed.
A friend of the two victims told NBC 5 that the man and woman were a couple and owned an Ethiopian restaurant at Forest and Greenville.
Police are searching for the shooter(s).
6 thoughts on “Owners of Desta Ethiopian Restaurant in Dallas TX found dead in front of their home”
My heart goes out to the family of the victims. I hope the police will track down and arrest who ever committed this senseless crime. This is where we should put all politics aside and come together to mourn the loss of a hardworking family. RIP!!!!!!!
Anonymous replies:
August 17th, 2012 at 12:05 AM
This is so sad , I can’t believe this , what made the gunman do this why ?? I feel like it was someone who new them and wanted something from them !! Rest in peace my friend & may you be with the lord I’n heaven happy .
This was the worst day in Dallas Ethiopian community. We are devastated and we will be mourning for days and days to come. What a senseless and cowardice act.
MY HEART FELT SYMPHATY
WRECKLESS AND BRUTAL ACT AGAINST INNOCENT ETHIOPIAN WOE TO THE KILLER/S ,REST IN PEACE TO YAYEHYIRAD AND YENENESH MAY ALMIGHTY GOD GIVE PEACE AND COMFORT TO THEIR FAMILY
My wife Yeshi and I used to visit 4 or 5 different Ethiopian restaurants around Dallas, but after a couple visits to Desta, we never wanted to go anywhere but there. Why? Because of Yenenesh Desta (she went by “Selam”). Selam cooked the best Habesha food, as good as anything you could find back in Ethiopia (at least that’s what my Ethiopian wife tells me). But great food in and of itself didn’t earn our loyalty – it was Selam herself that kept us coming back and her AWESOME staff. They understood how to provide GREAT customer service. No matter how busy it was, Selam always came out of the kitchen to give us a hug and speak with us at our table. She had a way of talking with our 4-yr-old son that made him smile and often blush. Tears well up in my eyes as I think about how sweet and warm she was, and ache at the thought of not seeing her smiling face again. Her husband, Yared, was a quiet and kind-hearted man, and they both were working so hard to build their restaurant and serve the community. My wife and I had just celebrated our 6th anniversary at Desta over the weekend, and we are going to miss Selam and Yared so, so much. I think I know why the rain was pouring down Tuesday night when this occurred – God was crying hard for His two children who were slain by some evil animal. Our prayers go out for all the family (especially their son) and friends who are left behind, and for the capture and punishment of all those responsible for this senseless murder of these two beautiful people.
This news is a very sad one and also disturbing. If nothing was taken from the couple or their house then this may not be robbery that went awry. This is a 2nd incident of cold blooded murder on our community that has not been resolved yet. I remember a story on this website about an Ethiopian store owner who was shot to death in the same city a few years ago whose killers are still out there and not apprehended yet. These killings seem to target business owners which led me to suspect extortion. This type of crime begins as the size of immigrants swells. I hope that is not the case. The other culprit I suspect is hate. The number of hate groups in the West is growing and their main target is the immigrant community. This hatred targeting especially those immigrants who found success by working hard comes from any source. It could be from neo-Nazis, white supremacists or gang groups of any race. My most worries come from the last ones – Neighborhood gangs. The member of such gangs have been preached to the hilt how business in the hoods are taken over by ‘conspiracy’ between former white business and property owners and immigrants. I remember years ago watching Sunday Church service on TV coming out of Chicago. The preacher was a well known pastor who is now a public official. I also remember a face in the crowd the camera showed at one point who was a news anchor on one of the TV stations in Chicago. The preacher went on speaking about the ills in the hoods and started talking about businesses in the south side of Chicago, how they used to be owned by white people (He was alluding to Jewish folks). He told the congregation how those former white business owners conspired and sold (almost given away) their stores to immigrants. He was sure that as if there was a sit-down of immigrants and white business owners to exclude potential black entrepreneurs. You should see how his eyes turned red, his mouth foaming and his voice began to roar shaking the roof off the church. I am sure some of such unfounded and incendiary sermon will circulate in the community. I can imagine how such irresponsible sermons will incite those who can’t see through it. If I ever have the chance to meet this pastor (now public official) I will ask him the following questions:
1) What is the source of his information about the alleged conspiracy?
2) When and where did it take place?
3) Who were (need to name) the organizers and participants who conducted such a conspiracy?
4) If this really happened and he has hard evidence, then why he has not introduced a legislation to hold an inquiry regarding this conspiracy? If true, such conspiracy is a crime punishable by law.
Now mind you all. Think about such groundless and incendiary sermons circulating on cassette tapes and CD’s in such places where gangs rule. The result is – let’s go out and shoot the M-F clerks!!! Let’s go and shoot the M-F ni…. out of our hoods!!!
But in the meantime, in no way I am saying that the sole reasons of such crimes are such irresponsible sermons. This church seems to be big and prominent one and should not be a place for such rubbish innuendo.
My prayers and thoughts go out to the families of the victims. May God Rest Them In Peace!!!