Conflict between men accused in shopping center gunfight may have been ongoing

Larry was free on bond in alleged 2021 shooting of Jacobs

TEXARKANA, Texas --The conflict between two men accused of exchanging gunfire in a crowded Texarkana shopping center last weekend may have been brewing since last year.

Court records show that Latavion Quintae Larry, 21, allegedly shot Benjamin Jacobs, 26, during an encounter Aug. 2, 2021, and was free on a $100,000 bond since his release Sept. 23, 2021.

Larry and Jacobs are both charged with deadly conduct in the March 25 shooting that left a man using a self-serve ice machine near the gunplay in critical condition.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the bystander suffered "substantial internal bleeding and was paralyzed from the chest down" at the time of his admittance to a local hospital for emergency care.

Texarkana, Texas, police have recently described the victim as being in "stable" condition.

Oaklawn shooting March 25

Witnesses to the shooting described a chaotic scene to investigators. Some allege Larry fired shots in the Big Lots parking lot as he drove a white Mercury Grand Marquis. Jacobs allegedly fired shots from the sidewalk in front of a hair salon before driving away in a black Kia sedan.

Witnesses described seeing the Marquis chase the Kia out of the shopping center after at least 15 shots were fired.

"This is a busy parking lot on Friday evening at approximately 1800 (6 p.m.) with multiple pedestrians and vehicle occupants in the area," the affidavit states.

Windsor Drive shooting

On Aug. 2, 2021, Larry allegedly said, "You killed my cousin" before firing a bullet that struck Jacobs in the back in the 1400 block of Windsor Drive, according to a probable cause affidavit in that case. Jacobs reportedly told investigators that he is the father of a child born to a cousin of Larry's who committed suicide.

Jacobs allegedly told investigators he drove himself to a Texarkana hospital for emergency treatment.

Bowie County court records show Larry was arrested Sept. 21 on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was released from custody Sept. 23 after posting a $100,000 bond. Larry's bond has been surrendered and he is being held without bail in the case.

Larry's bail on a deadly conduct charge related to the Oaklawn shooting is $1 million. He was arrested the day after the shooting.

Jacobs arrest and other pending charges

Acting on a tip, Texarkana, Texas, police officer Cole Bredenberg was waiting for Jacobs at the Texarkana city limits to pass him on Interstate 30 coming from Dallas, according to a probable cause affidavit. The black Kia Optima, which Jacobs was known to drive, was allegedly traveling about 80 in a 65 mph zone when it zipped past Bredenberg's marked patrol unit.

Bredenberg caught up to the Kia and both vehicles took the Nash exit from the highway. Bredenberg's lights reportedly were activated when the Kia allegedly ran a red light at the access road and Kings Highway before accelerating east toward Texarkana, Texas.

While driving east on Mall Drive, the access road for I-30, Jacobs allegedly reached speeds of 100, running red lights as he traveled south on Richmond. The Kia came to a stop behind Hillside Village Apartments on Richmond and Jacobs allegedly fled on foot.

As officers closed in on Jacobs, he allegedly ran through a hole in a fence and headed toward College Drive. Jacobs allegedly was hiding beneath a car in front of a residence in the 2200 block of College when he was taken into custody.

Jacobs was arrested on charges of felony evading arrest in a vehicle and deadly conduct stemming from the Oaklawn shooting. A bevy of outstanding warrants for Jacobs also were executed.

Felony warrants for Jacobs issued prior to the Oaklawn shooting include assault on a pregnant person and failure to appear in court on that case and in a felony drug possession case.

A felony warrant related to an alleged March 20 assault of a girlfriend involving a knife was served as were a bevy of warrants for failing to appear on misdemeanor charges, including interference with an emergency call, possession of marijuana and evading arrest.

Jacobs' bail on the deadly conduct charge in the Oaklawn shooting is set at $1 million. Bail amounts on other charges exceed $300,000.

Larry and Jacobs are being held in the Bowie County jail.

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