Man pleads not guilty to murder

Tyvon Gullatt
Tyvon Gullatt

A Texarkana man accused of murder in a fatal shooting in Texarkana, Texas, in February entered a plea of not guilty Wednesday at a hearing before a Bowie County district judge.

Tyvon Montrel Gullatt, 23, appeared with Dallas lawyer Jasmine Crockett before 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart Wednesday. After entering a not guilty plea on Gullatt's behalf, Crockett asked the court to consider a motion she recently filed for a reduction in Gullatt's existing $1 million bail.

Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp said the state would oppose a lower bail amount for Gullatt based on the nature of the charge facing him. Crockett said she intends to call members of Gullatt's family to give testimony about his ties to the community and their willingness to help Gullatt remain law-abiding if he is released while his case proceeds.

Lockhart scheduled a hearing to address the issue of bail for Monday afternoon at the Bowie County courthouse in New Boston, Texas. Crisp may call members of law enforcement to testify about the crime Gullatt is accused of committing.

Gullatt is accused of fatally shooting Carlos Clark, 25, in the parking lot Feb. 10 of Chevron in the 500 block of State Line Avenue in Texarkana, Texas. Gullatt and a male juvenile, 16, allegedly drove to the Chevron to meet Gullatt and another man to buy marijuana, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account.

The juvenile allegedly told investigators that he saw Gullatt get into the back seat of a car already occupied by Gullatt and another man. A gunshot was heard, and all three men quickly exited the car and ran in different directions.

The man with Clark told investigators Gullatt pulled out a 9 mm pistol and attempted to rob them.

"He advised that both he and Clark jumped out of their vehicle and started running away when he heard the sound of a gunshot," the affidavit states. "He advised that he ran behind the store and circled back around to his vehicle when he realized that Clark had been shot."

The witness denied knowing anything about marijuana and cash found in the parking lot by police after the shooting. Clark died after being taken via ambulance to a local hospital.

Gullatt faces five to 99 years or life if convicted of murder.

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