Suspects Sought in Early Morning Drive-By Shooting

TYLER � Authorities in Smith County are investigating a pre-dawn drive-by shooting. Shortly before 2:30 yesterday morning, the Smith County Sheriff�s Office received a 911 call regarding a shooting in the 11700 block of County Road 1121. The caller advised that the home had been hit by gunfire. Upon arrival, deputies talked with a woman who lives at the residence. She reported that around 1:00, she and her son were driving their vehicle and had stopped on Frankston Highway when two unknown black males approached them. She said the men appeared to be intoxicated and that both men began making threatening statements and told her they knew where she lived. One of the men then broke a window out of her vehicle with a bottle.

The woman said she then drove away, went to her residence on County Road 1121, and parked her vehicle. The woman and her son said they then got into a different vehicle at the residence and drove back to the area to look for the suspects. While driving, she was contacted by one of her two daughters who were at the residence and told that the home had been hit by gunfire, but that neither had been harmed. The mother then told the daughter to call 911.

When sheriff’s deputies arrived, the woman described the men as two black men, both in their early 20s. One was approximately 6 feet tall, weighing 300-350 pounds, dark skinned, wearing a black T-shirt, black shorts, and flip-flops. The second man was described as being 5�9�, light-skinned, about 185 pounds, wearing a white T-shirt, Wrangler blue jeans, and white Nike tennis shoes. Anyone with information regarding the shooting or the suspects should contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at 903-566-6600.