Capital murder indictments were handed down earlier this month for four men accused of killing a Texarkana, Texas, father in March.
Marshall William-Elijio Vallejos, 22; Jaquelle Kioshae Rogers, 21; Jailon Montre Gamble, 20; and Anthony Wilson Jr., 19, are suspected of capital murder in the shooting death of 28-year-old Casey Smith. Smith's body was discovered in front of a house in the 2400 block of Mamie Drive late in the afternoon March 29. Smith was reportedly waiting to meet his children's school bus.
Vallejos was the first suspect arrested. He reportedly sought treatment for a gunshot wound to his knee in the early hours of March 30 at a local hospital, according to a probable-cause affidavit used to create the following account. Staff members at Wadley Regional Medical Center contacted police, and Vallejos was taken into custody.
Officers were already looking for Vallejos when he was arrested. Witnesses reported seeing him at the Dollar General store on South Lake Drive the day of Smith's death and described him as acting "abnormally."
"They also noticed the victim's vehicle at the store while Vallejos was there," the affidavit states. "The witness also saw Vallejos get into a silver vehicle that the witness believed to be the silver vehicle that was released on social media."
Vallejos allegedly confessed.
He reportedly told Texarkana, Texas, detectives he and the other three men intended to rob Smith because they believed he had drugs when they approached him on Mamie Drive. The four men drove to Elinor Drive, which is about one street over from Mamie, and three of them got out of the silver car while the fourth waited behind the wheel.
Vallejos allegedly told investigators he carried a revolver and that one of the other men, whom Vallejos called "A.J.," was armed with a small, black handgun. Vallejos reportedly said that as he, A.J. and a third man neared Smith as he sat in his car, he cocked the revolver, hoping the sound would intimidate Smith.
Vallejos allegedly told detectives that A.J. demanded that Smith hand over "everything he had" as Vallejos opened Smith's car door, meaning to take his cellphone.
"Vallejos stated he shot the victim in the face when he (Smith) attempted to take his weapon from him," the affidavit states.
Vallejos reportedly told investigators that A.J. began firing at Smith as well, accidentally shooting Vallejos in the knee during the fray. Following the shooting, witnesses reported seeing three men running from the scene.
Capital murder is punishable by life without the possibility of parole or death by lethal injection. In addition to capital murder, the grand jury issued indictments for each of the four men for first-degree felony murder. If convicted of the lesser offense instead of capital murder, the men face five to 99 years or life in prison.
All of the cases have been assigned to 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart. The men are scheduled to appear before Lockhart for formal arraignment next month. All four defendants are in Bowie County custody.