Russell Alan Ragsdale Jr, aged 25, born on June 11, 1999, is currently housed in Kaufman County Jail after his arrest on November 22, 2024. Ragsdale, standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 265 pounds, faces serious federal charges following a recent incident involving a firearm.
Russell Alan Ragsdale Jr, aged 25, born on June 11, 1999, is currently housed in Kaufman County Jail after his arrest on November 22, 2024. Ragsdale, standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 265 pounds, faces serious federal charges following a recent incident involving a firearm.
Who: Russell Alan Ragsdale Jr was apprehended by the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office after attempting to re-enter a Dallas church on November 2, 2024, with a tactical rifle. Ragsdale had initially attended a Mass service alongside roughly 100 parishioners.
What: Charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in North Texas for possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of controlled substances, Ragsdale's case is linked to a prior 2022 incident. During the investigation of the church event, federal agents uncovered that Ragsdale was previously charged — and subsequently dismissed — for murder in a February 2022 shooting of his roommate in Seagoville. Ragsdale claimed self-defense during that incident.
When: The arrest occurred on November 22, 2024, with his first court appearance on November 25, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renée Harris Toliver.
Where: He was arrested in Kaufman County, Texas, after the Dallas church incident and now awaits further legal proceedings including a forthcoming detention hearing.
Why: Ragsdale faces a federal firearm charge due, in part, to evidence from his past and current actions. Investigations revealed three firearms, including an AR-15, and drug-related violations, including purchasing hallucinogenic mushrooms before a prior shooting incident. Additionally, data from Ragsdale’s phone exhibited ongoing drug use from as early as November 2021.
Legal proceedings continue to unfold for Ragsdale, who could face up to 15 years in a federal prison if convicted. His next court appearance remains pivotal in assessing the path forward regarding both his detention status and federal charges.