The Killing of Sherry Dawson

The Killing of Sherry Dawson: A True Story of Retaliation, Surveillance, and a $125,000 Drug Deal Gone

On the morning of November 5, 2025, 33‑year‑old Sherry Dawson drove to a self‑storage facility located at 6400 Eastex Freeway in northeast Houston. According to investigators, she was simply stopping by to pick up items from her common‑law husband’s unit and was unaware that a deadly storm of criminal retaliation was waiting for her there.

Sherry’s husband, whose name is redacted in court documents, later told police he feared something was wrong when she had not returned. When he arrived at the storage lot, he found an active crime scene—Houston police had discovered Sherry unresponsive near her tan Buick sedan, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds to her head, neck, and arms. She was pronounced dead around **10:19 a.m.** by responding fire personnel. The Harris County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by multiple close‑range gunshots.

Security footage from the facility later revealed that just minutes after Sherry entered the gate at 10:05 a.m., a white Ford F‑250 pickup slipped in directly behind her before the gate closed—matching the vehicle investigators linked to 57‑year‑old Kip Stitts, a Detroit resident and long‑time associate of Sherry’s partner. On video, Sherry appears to walk toward her storage unit, followed by a confrontation with a man believed to be Stitts. The footage shows a physical struggle, Sherry falling to the ground, rising, and then collapsing again before the assailant flees the scene. The truck is then seen speeding away.

What initially seemed like a shocking act of random violence quickly revealed itself to be the fatal consequence of a six‑figure cocaine scam. Investigators found that Sherry’s husband had served as a “middleman” for drug deals, connecting buyers and suppliers. In this case, Kip Stitts had paid $125,000 for a shipment of cocaine. Sherry’s husband admitted he and the supplier conspired to steal the money—Stitts’ payment disappeared, the drugs were never delivered, and the husband kept a $10,000 cut from the deal. Within days, rumor spread that Stitts was hunting him down.

Phone‑location data confirmed investigators’ suspicions: Stitts’ device had been surveilling the couple’s home before the murder, was present at the storage facility at the exact time of the killing, and then traveled north out of Houston later that day—arriving back in Detroit the following evening.

Court documents indicate that Stitts may have mistaken Sherry for her husband or targeted her as a form of retaliation for the money stolen from him. Prosecutors have described the killing as an attack motivated directly by “the missing product and the unpaid $125,000.” The brutality of the act close‑range shots, clear pursuit inside a gated facility, and a rapid escape suggested a level of calculation rather than an impulsive outburst.

The truck believed to have been used in the murder had been purchased in Beaumont just days before the killing, using a fake name—a detail that strengthened prosecutors’ claims that the attack was premeditated. Witnesses later confirmed seeing a man matching Stitts’ description driving the same vehicle in the days leading up to the murder.

Despite the mounting evidence—surveillance footage, phone‑location records, witness accounts, and ties to the drug deal Stitts has not yet been arrested. He was charged with murder by Harris County prosecutors in January 2026, who requested a $1 million bond, citing his criminal history (including prior drug and assault convictions) and his ability to flee across state lines quickly.

Sherry Dawson, according to court filings and media reports, had no role in the drug dispute that ultimately claimed her life. She was repeatedly described by investigators as collateral damage—a person caught in the crossfire of greed, deception, and criminal ambition. Although her husband admitted to orchestrating the theft that set events in motion, there is no evidence whatsoever that Sherry participated in or even knew about the scheme.

The tragedy stirred community concern about safety in Houston storage facilities, especially those located along busy service roads. Within hours of the killing, homicide detectives descended on the scene, urging witnesses to come forward. The violent nature of Sherry’s death—occurring in broad daylight inside a secured facility—has since become a flashpoint in discussions about retaliation‑based crime and the ways women often pay with their lives for the decisions of the men around them.

To date, Sherry’s family, community advocates, and investigators continue calling for justice as Houston authorities work with out‑of‑state agencies to locate and apprehend Kip Stitts.

Sherry Dawson’s story is a heartbreaking reminder that even everyday errands can turn fatal when entangled with criminal networks. She was not a perfect person, as loved ones acknowledge, but she was undeserving of the violent fate that befell her. She leaves behind a legacy of grief, unanswered questions, and a community demanding accountability for her senseless death.

The Beautiful Sherry L. Dawson was born on March 20th 1992 from the honorable military veteran Lee Dawson and his gorgeous wife Sharon Dawson in Houston, Texas. Proud parents of this walking angel. In her tragic passing she is mourned by her loving parents, siblings Michael T. Johnson, Vanity Lange and her five precious children LaNiyah Dawson, Jeremyah Dawson, Josiyah Dawson, Matthew Dawson, MaRiyah Dawson. LaNiyah Dawson her first born her twin was the sunshine in her soul. Her glamour girl and beauty expert. Jeremyah Dawson her first boy was her joy. Her fat boy and protector.

Josiyah Dawson was her bliss. She danced her whole pregnancy with him. It brought her so much happiness to watch him dance through life with the same ambition as her. Matthew Dawson our miracle baby her baby boy, her pop corn buddy, snuggle monster and personal comedian. Kept her with a smile on her face. MaRiyah Dawson her little sassy diva. Sherry would be the only person that could make her smile. She learned and taught her softness. Sherry enjoyed her kids and being a mother more than anything. Nurturing and spending time with them was her passion. She loved cooking and knew good food. The talented business owner of LaVee’s catering company.

She loved dancing and could out heel toe people half her age. She loved music it gave her life and she was often called DJ Sherry D. Because she could always get the party started for all ages. She loved taking care of people. She believed in doing gods work. Treating others how you wanted to be treated. She enjoyed seeing everyone happy and full. She loved life and the small things that mattered. In her passing she is dearly missed by a host of her loving aunts, uncles and numerous cousin.

May Sherry Dawson rest in peace.