Murder suspect to be arraigned Monday in Bowie County

Rodney Jerel Lindley
Rodney Jerel Lindley

TEXARKANA, Texas -- A man charged with murder in the September shooting death of 30-year-old Mercedes Young is scheduled for an arraignment Monday, according to Bowie County court records.

Rodney Jerel Lindley, 41, of Texarkana, Texas, is scheduled to appear in Bowie County's 202nd District Court.

Lindley was arrested in November 2023 after Texarkana, Texas, police received information about where he was hiding in the city. Lindley was wanted in the Sept. 13 murder of Young.

Police were dispatched to a house in the 3800 block of Alexander Avenue, just south of Liberty-Eylau Early Childhood Center, about 5 p.m. Sept. 13 after receiving reports of a disturbance and shots fired. At the scene, officers discovered Young with a gunshot wound.

Young died later that evening at the hospital.

Lindley, who allegedly fled the scene after the shooting, was identified as the suspect, and detectives obtained a murder warrant for him that night.

Shortly after Young's death, her mother, Deann Gregory, told the Gazette her daughter was at the house babysitting a friend's children. Gregory said she does not know why Lindley also was at the house.

Young's children, who were with their mother, allege that Lindley and Young had argued before their mother was shot, Gregory said.

Lindley remains in jail with bail set at $1 million. He is represented by attorney Tabitha Branch and the Bowie County Public Defender's Office, according to court records.

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