Grand jury to consider shooting

Suspect accused of firing at motorist on Interstate 30

A grand jury is expected to soon consider the case of a man accused of shooting another motorist as they traveled along Interstate 30 in Bowie County on an April afternoon.

William Calvin Crunk, 64, of DeSoto, Texas, is accused of shooting a Magnolia, Ark., man who was on his way home after taking his daughter to a Dallas airport April 15, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account. The alleged victim told investigators he noticed a man in a white Kia SUV pulling a utility trailer traveling behind him at a high rate of speed and tailgating between mile markers 195 and 198.

The alleged victim said he finished passing an 18-wheeler and moved his Hyundai sedan into the right lane when the Kia, allegedly driven by Crunk, sped past, pulled in front of him, and then slowed. The Magnolia man told investigators he passed the Kia and returned to the right lane.

"The suspect then drove parallel with him in the passing lane. The victim advised that he looked to his left and saw the suspect had his window down and was pointing a black revolver at him," the affidavit states. "The victim had his window up at the time but could see and hear a single shot being fired at him by the suspect."

The Hyundai driver told officers he heard a loud pop as the bullet passed through his door seconds before he felt a burning sensation under his left arm. The injured man followed the shooter and called 911.

Bowie County Sheriff's Office deputies documented the bullet hole in the Hyundai.

"The bullet exited through the interior of the door before grazing the victim's left tricep and coming to rest under his left arm where it left a second abrasion," the affidavit states. "The fired bullet fell out of the victim's shirt when he got out of the driver's seat, and it was collected for evidence."

Crunk allegedly was driving the Kia when deputies stopped it at the 215 mile marker. All he allegedly would say to deputies was, "Nobody got shot."

Officers collected a Taurus .357 revolver from the Kia's passenger seat. One of the gun's seven bullets had been fired, authorities reported. A Sig Sauer 9mm semiautomatic pistol was recovered from the Kia's glove compartment.

Crunk is licensed to carry a concealed handgun.

An open, partially empty bottle of wine was discovered in the front passenger seat as well. While the affidavit indicates Crunk allegedly smelled of alcohol, the affidavit does not state whether officers believe Crunk was drunk.

"Judge, it does not look like the state and the defense are going to be able to work this out, so this case is going to the grand jury," Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp said at a pre-indictment hearing for Crunk this week before 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart.

Crunk is represented by Texarkana lawyer Derric McFarland. He is free on a $100,000 bail bond. If convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Crunk faces two to 20 years in a Texas prison.

 

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