The story has been circulating all morning among local musicians and friends who do not want to believe it, but the sad tale is true: Carter Albrecht, keyboardist, guitarist and singer in the band Sorta, is dead. He was shot early this morning by a man who believed Albrecht was trying to break into his home at 9038 Santa Clara Drive in Lakewood. Albrecht was 34.
There is no official police report yet, as Dallas police were in the midst of notifying next of kin earlier this afternoon, but an officer in the homicide unit confirmed this afternoon that the slain man was indeed Jeffrey Carter Albrecht. Officers also confirmed that the incident occurred at 4:07 a.m. today, after Albrecht and his girlfriend had a fight at her East Dallas home. For whatever reason, Albrecht went next door and began banging on a neighbor's door. The neighbor fired a gun through the door, likely because he believed Albrecht was trying to break in, officers tell Unfair Park. According to the police, Albrecht was shot in the head and died at the scene.
"From the evidence that we see ... it was more than just knocking on the door," Sgt. Larry Lewis told KDFW-Channel 4 this morning. "He was actually beating on the door. And it appears, to be kicking the door also."
Sgt. Gil Cerda, a DPD spokesman, told Unfair Park that the shooting has been "ruled as a homicide at the moment," and that "it's possible a grand jury referral will be made on this case" after the investigation is finished. Homicide detectives are still conducting interviews, and more details are expected later today. --Robert Wilonsky