Bounty Hunter and Private Investigator Charged with Murder in Dallas Warrant Execution Gone Wrong
Dallas, TX – June 28, 2025 ; Two men, including a bounty hunter and a private investigator, have been formally charged with murder following a fatal shooting during a warrant apprehension that resulted in the death of 33-year-old Drew Knowles. The incident, which unfolded on Florence Street in South Dallas, has ignited widespread concern over the use of force by private actors operating in law enforcement-adjacent roles.
The suspects—Rodney Brown, 43, believed to be acting as a bounty hunter, and Jorge Moncivais, 23, a licensed private investigator—were attempting to serve a warrant on Knowles when the encounter turned deadly. According to Dallas Police Department investigators, the men engaged Knowles in the 2700 block of Florence Street, during which multiple shots were fired at him.
Knowles, reportedly trying to flee, was struck several times before losing control of his vehicle and crashing into a utility pole. Emergency services responded quickly, but Knowles was pronounced dead at the scene.
Arrests and Charges
Brown and Moncivais were arrested shortly after the incident and are currently being held in Dallas County Jail, each on $500,000 bond. They face first-degree murder charges, and authorities say additional charges may be pending based on the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
Dallas police and the District Attorney’s office are collaborating to examine not only the legality of the warrant execution but also whether excessive or unjustified force was used during the attempted apprehension. Questions are also being raised about proper licensing, coordination with law enforcement, and the authority under which the suspects were acting.
Community Outrage and Legal Scrutiny
The shooting has prompted public outcry and renewed scrutiny of how bounty hunters and private investigators operate, particularly in urban neighborhoods. Critics argue that private agents sometimes lack the accountability, oversight, and training required in high-stakes confrontations.
“This case underscores serious concerns about how private individuals take law enforcement into their own hands,” said a civil rights attorney following the case. “If someone ends up dead while they’re being hunted down like this, we need to ask ourselves: Was this necessary? Was it legal?”
Drew Knowles’ family has spoken out in grief, demanding justice and answers. A family spokesperson called the shooting “unjustifiable” and said Knowles “deserved due process, not a death sentence on the street.”
Ongoing Investigation
The Dallas Police Department’s Homicide Unit is leading the investigation. Surveillance footage, bodycam footage from responding officers, witness interviews, and forensic analysis are all expected to play a role in determining exactly what happened in the moments leading up to Knowles’ death.
Authorities have not disclosed the nature of the warrant that led to the encounter, but confirm that neither Brown nor Moncivais are sworn law enforcement officers. Legal experts say the case could set an important precedent regarding the boundaries of force used by private enforcement agents in Texas and beyond.
Legal Background of the Accused
Rodney Brown is believed to be a longtime bounty hunter with a history of performing fugitive recovery across the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Jorge Moncivais, significantly younger, holds a private investigator’s license registered with the state of Texas. It is unclear whether the two have worked together in the past or if this was a one-time collaboration.
Both are being held pending arraignment, and their attorneys have not yet issued public statements.
Family and Community Response
A memorial has formed near the site of the crash on Florence Street, where flowers, candles, and handwritten notes now sit beneath the leaning utility pole. Family members of Drew Knowles described him as a father, brother, and friend, with a past but also with hopes of turning his life around.
“He made mistakes like anybody else,” said one cousin. “But no one deserves to die like that. It wasn’t a trial. It was an execution.”
Community leaders and advocates are calling for stricter oversight and clearer laws governing the use of force by non-police agents, especially when dealing with civilians outside of immediate law enforcement supervision.
What Comes Next
As the investigation continues, the District Attorney’s office is expected to present the case to a grand jury in the coming weeks. Prosecutors have indicated they are pursuing the charges aggressively and will be evaluating whether the suspects’ actions constituted unlawful use of deadly force or violations of state and federal law.
The case is likely to shape ongoing discussions about the risks of privatized justice and the fine line between legal authority and vigilante behavior.
Anyone with additional information related to the incident is urged to contact the Dallas Police Department Homicide Tip Line.