TEXARKANA, Texas -A murder trial which was supposed to begin today in New Boston has been delayed because the defendant is being quarantined in the Bowie County jail.
Kavante Lamarr Wright, 26, is accused in the March 23, 2020, shooting death of Eric Gentry. The case was set for jury selection this morning with opening statements and testimony to begin that afternoon. At a pretrial hearing Monday, 202nd District Judge John Tidwell said Wright's pod in the Bowie County jail is under quarantine for possible exposure to COVID-19.
Tidwell said that 14 of the defendants listed on his criminal docket Monday were unable to have their scheduled hearings because of their quarantine status. Tidwell rescheduled Wright's trial for later this month.
Wright's lawyer, Shorty Barrett of Texarkana, said he is filing a motion to suppress a statement Wright made, which was captured by an officer's body camera following the shooting.
First Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp said the statement at issue involves Wright's alleged response when an officer asked, "Where is the victim?"
Crisp told the court that Wright stated, "The b-- is in there," allegedly referring to Gentry.
Tidwell said he will hear arguments on Barrett's motion once Wright is out of quarantine and able to attend court.
Wright was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the shooting, according to records.
Gentry was at the apartment Wright shared with Gentry's twin sister in the 1200 block of Stuckey Street in Texarkana, Texas, to cut his sister's children's hair, according to a probable cause affidavit.
While Gentry was at the apartment, Gentry's sister left to pick up Wright. Wright and Gentry's sister allegedly got into an argument while in the car on the way back to the apartment because Gentry's sister refused to take him to buy more alcohol. Wright was allegedly intoxicated and shifted his anger to Gentry when Gentry intervened in the argument between Wright and his twin.
Wright allegedly retrieved a gun from a bedroom in the apartment and Gentry allegedly spoke of getting his own firearm before any shots were fired.
Investigators said Gentry's sister told them that Gentry first fired a shot into the floor before shooting Gentry in the chest at about 4:30 p.m. March 23. Gentry was pronounced dead at the scene.
Wright's bail is set at $1 million. He faces five to 99 years or life in prison if convicted of murder.