NEW BOSTON, Texas - A 17-year-old was indicted by a Bowie County grand jury Thursday for capital murder in the death of a local husband and father which has already resulted in a life sentence for one of three teens charged in the case.
Kentraile Detrontrae Collins Jr. was the last of three men to be charged and arrested in the Nov. 9, 2019, shooting of 31-year-old Craig Garner. Collins was arrested the week before co-defendant Daveon "Shooter" Woods, 18, was convicted of capital murder by a Bowie County jury and sentenced to life in prison by 202nd District Judge John Tidwell.
Co-defendant Cameron Ware, 18, testified for the state at Woods' trial in August. A capital murder charge remains pending against Ware and he is scheduled to appear later this month for a pretrial hearing before Tidwell.
Ware and others testified that Collins was angry at Jamarkeo Tubbs and wanted revenge. Collins had tried to rob Tubbs at gunpoint in the parking lot of the River Crossing Apartments in Texarkana on Nov. 8 but Tubbs allegedly grabbed the weapon and ran away.
Tubbs testified at trial that he made arrangements through a third party later in the day Nov. 8 to return the gun because he wanted to avoid any further "trouble" with Collins or his associates.
Ware testified that Collins recruited him and Woods to go to Tubbs' apartment and rob him. Ware said he, Woods and Collins kicked in the door to the Garners' apartment by mistake at about 1 a.m. Nov. 9. Multiple witnesses testified that River Crossing consists of at least two buildings which are numbered identically and that going to the wrong apartment is a common occurrence.
Ware testified that Woods was in the lead with himself and Collins behind as the three teens kicked in the Garners' door and entered their residence. Ware said he saw a man standing in a bedroom doorway at the end of the hall, looked to his left at Collins, and heard a shot ring out. Ware said he "panic fired" three shots which crime scene investigators testified did not strike Garner.
Woods shot Garner in the head. Garner's wife, who was seven months pregnant, testified she and her husband were awakened by noise they at first attributed to their oldest child. Their youngest, a 2-year-old, was in the bed with them. Garner shouted at the strangers in his house and was shot in the head with a round from the .40 caliber weapon Woods was known to carry, falling to the floor at the foot of his bed.
At the time of the shooting Woods and Ware were still 17. Collins will reach his 18th birthday next month. Under Texas law, defendants charged with capital murder when they have not reached age 18 are ineligible for the death penalty. Typically capital murder is punishable by lethal injection or life without the possibility of parole. Young offenders found guilty of capital murder may receive a life sentence with parole possible after 40 years. Eligibility for parole is not a guarantee that parole will be granted.
Collins is expected to appear before Tidwell for arraignment this month.