Samuel Arthur Demerson

UNSOLVED: Amarillo Man Killed While Changing Tire in Pampa Drive-By Shooting

Samuel Arthur Demerson III was preparing for a fresh start when he was fatally shot outside a Pampa residence in August 2000. More than 25 years later, no one has been held responsible for his death.

Demerson was born on December 9, 1978, and attended Palo Duro High School in Amarillo. He and his girlfriend, Keri Kendrick—now Keri Moore—had dated intermittently for about three years after meeting in high school. Shortly before his death, the couple moved into a home together and began planning their future.

The 21-year-old had recently completed a 15-month state-jail sentence for felony possession of a controlled substance. According to Sarah Ewing, a friend of the couple, Demerson was determined to avoid further trouble and rebuild his life.

Ewing recalled asking Demerson whether he planned to stay out of trouble following his release. He told her that he intended to “live right” and described his freedom as a fresh start.

On Friday, August 11, 2000, Demerson left the couple’s new home with two or three friends to travel to Pampa. Moore expected him to return that night, but he did not come home. Investigators were unable to fully account for his activities during the following two days.

At approximately 1:10 a.m. on Sunday, August 13, Demerson was changing—or helping someone change—a tire in the driveway of a home at 1164 Varnon Drive when someone opened fire from a passing vehicle. He was struck in the upper torso.^[1]

One of Demerson’s friends reported the shooting. Paramedics transported him to Pampa Medical Center, where he died from his injuries.^[2]

Moore had been increasingly worried because Demerson had not returned home. The couple had only recently moved into their residence and had not yet connected their telephone. Demerson’s mother contacted Moore’s family, and Moore’s sister went to the home to tell her that he had been killed.

The investigation was complicated by false accusations and misleading information. In 2011, Pampa police officer Stormy McCullar described it as one of the department’s most difficult cases because investigators had little reliable evidence. Detectives pursued multiple leads, but many were determined to be false.

Published sources contain conflicting dates: Amarillo Globe-News reporting places the shooting at approximately 1:10 a.m. on August 13, 2000, while Demerson’s memorial record lists his death as August 14.^[3] One 2011 article also refers to “August 23,” which appears to be an error because August 13 was a Sunday and matches the paper’s separate case summary.

No publicly available report indicates that an arrest has been made, and Demerson’s murder remains unsolved. Anyone with information can contact the Pampa Police Department at 806-669-5700. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Top of Texas Crime Stoppers at 806-669-2222 or through the P3 Tips app.