The Smith County Sheriff's Office made an arrest in an early morning shooting in the Chapel Hill area of a Lindale man.
On May 20, 2019 at approximately 4:45 a.m. Smith County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were sent to a Deadly Conduct call at Spur 124 (Old Henderson Hwy) and County Road 273 in Tyler.Upon their arrival, it was learned that a victim, Demmond McGowen – 27 of Lindale, was at this location with a gunshot wound to the leg. Deputies immediately applied a tourniquet to the victim’s leg to slow the bleeding.
UT Health East Texas EMS responded to the location and transported McGowen to UT Health Tyler with non-life threatening injuries.
A witness to the shooting advised that she and McGowen were at an unknown address on Hwy 64 East in the Chapel Hill area visiting with a friend identified as Brenton Taylor – 33.
She advised that Taylor became upset for an unknown reason, pulled out a handgun and shot McGowen in the leg.
She then stated that Taylor threatened to kill both she and McGowen. The witness was able to get McGowen to her car and drive toward the hospital.
Her car became disabled on Spur 124 where she had to pull over and call 911. Deputies were able to determine that the incident occurred at Brenton Taylor’s residence located in the 13700 block of Hwy 64 East in the Chapel Hill area.
Upon their arrival to the location, Taylor was detained as he was attempting to flee the residence. Smith County Investigators and the Crime Scene Unit responded to the location for further investigation.
An evidentiary search warrant for the residence was obtained from 241st State District Judge Jack Skeen prior to processing the scene and collecting evidence.
Investigators obtained arrest warrants on Brenton Taylor for two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
The warrants were signed by 7th State District Judge Kerry Russell who assessed bonds of $100,000 on each charge. Taylor was subsequently booked into the Smith County Jail on the aforementioned charges.
Editor's note: Any person arrested or charged with a crime is presumed innocent if and until they are convicted in a court of law.