A man from Hooks is critically injured in a Texarkana shooting. It happened near W. 10th and Waterall streets. According to the Texas Medical Center, the 36-year-old victim was driving his car toward W. 13th and Summerhill when he was shot. After he was shot, he struck a parked car. The shooting remains under investigation, but authorities are looking into the circumstances of the shooting.
Youell Swinney
Youell Swinney was a troubled young man, who was moved from home to home and even raised by his grandparents. His crimes escalated and eventually ended up in jail. He was convicted of stealing a car at age fifteen and then again at age twenty-four. By 1944, Youell Swinney was known to the U.S. marshals and residents of Texarkana.
During the investigation, the case sparked widespread media attention. Life magazine ran a massive spread about the case, in which a man was identified as the Phantom Killer. Although there were no further investigations, there was speculation about a possible motive behind the crime. In addition to the police investigation, many citizens and local media reported on the case. Life magazine wrote a story titled “The Texarkana Terror: A Southern City Is Panicked By a Serial Killer” in which a man identified as the Phantom Killer is implicated.
Police said the assailant was white, six feet tall, and wearing a hood. Investigators asked the town for help in finding the assailant. But no leads were found. Texarkana has a high crime rate, and this case still remains unsolved. However, the police are still searching for a killer. This is a sad case that continues to haunt the city.
The Texarkana shooting police department remained vigilant for two weeks after the shooting. They were also on the lookout for a third victim. The second victim, Betty Jo Booker, was shot in the neck. She was fully clothed, her coat was buttoned, and her right hand was tucked into her pocket. Despite being shot twice, her body appeared relatively undamaged.
As the investigation unfolded, the FBI discovered six cartridge cases and four projectiles. The local police department was criticized for not securing the scene. After the investigation was complete, the bullets were sent to a crime lab in Austin where they were positively identified as Colt models. In Texarkana, this case was not the first time a young man was killed. The city had seen a spike in crime and violence in recent months.
Robert Miller
In 1992, a Texarkana, Texas police officer shot and killed Robert Miller in his apartment. Police later determined the suspects’ identity through DNA. The suspects were found guilty on all counts, including two murders. They were also sentenced to two hundred and eighty-seven years in prison for the rape of Robinson. Additionally, they were sentenced to twenty years in prison for two burglary charges and ten years for an attempted burglary.
The Texarkana shooting Police Department said that the suspect was 29 years old and from Texarkana. He faces charges of first-degree murder, unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, and possession of a firearm by a certain person. Brunson is being held in the Miller County Jail until his first court appearance. A dark-colored sedan crashed into the residence and the suspect fled the scene. Brunson’s girlfriend was in the car, but was injured.
The prosecutor was able to convict Miller by citing his purported admission of guilt and testimony from Oklahoma Police Forensic Analyst Joyce Gilchrist. But most of the information that implicated Miller was based on general speculation. This allowed the prosecutor to aggregate statements into an admission of guilt, despite the fact that Miller always denied involvement. In fact, his statements were inconsistent with the actual circumstances of the crimes.
The first shooting took place in 1968 at a suburban development. Four of the five crime sites are now part of suburban development. One has been redeveloped as a parking lot, another is a wooded area near a public park. None of the four locations evoke the terror of the first attack. During the initial attack, an armed stranger demanded Jimmy Hollis take off his pants. The Texarkana Gazette called the man “The Phantom Killer”.
Two other suspects were arrested in the shooting. One was charged with first-degree murder, while the third was charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle. The suspects were arrested, and the former Texarkana police chief was convicted for the murder. A jury decided on the guilty verdict in this case. In the meantime, the investigation will continue to find the real perpetrator.
Earl Cliff McSpadden
The murder of Earl Cliff McSpadden was a mystery that surrounded the case, even though the murder was completely unplanned. The investigation showed that McSpadden was a transient oil storage tank builder and lived in Maryland. However, when McSpadden’s body was found, police thought it had been an accident, but closer inspection revealed that the man had already been dead. In fact, the man was killed before the train mowed down his arm, making his murder an unsolved case.
Texarkana residents were terrified and jittery after learning of the latest tragedy. With the five murders in less than six weeks, residents began stocking up on weapons. The fear grew and waned. The Texas Rangers quietly left the area for the next three weeks, which helped calm the city down. There was no arrest made, and the case was closed within three months.
The man had previously shot Mary Jeanne Larey, a local man who lived nearby. They had gone to Texarkana to visit a friend who lived at 1222 Locust Street. They were friends, and Martin and Booker spent time at the home of Tom Albritton. On April 14, Martin picked Booker up from the VFW club on West Fourth Street. Four hours later, Martin was found shot and killed. His body was buried on April 16, during heavy rainfall.
A forensic psychologist at the Federal Correctional Institution in Texarkana, Dr. Anthony Lapalla, believes that the killer was the same person who killed Betty Jo Booker and Paul Martin. The killer was a talented and intelligent man, but he was never apprehended. Moreover, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church on East Sixth Street.
In addition to committing the Texarkana shooting, Swinney also committed two other crimes in Texas. His wife had implicated him in the crimes, but he was not convicted. Afterwards, Swinney was sentenced to a long prison term as a habitual car thief and a forger. The two lead investigators were convinced that Swinney was guilty. In 2014, Dr. James Presley wrote a book that questioned the case.
Kevonte Collins
Two teens were killed and a 16-year-old boy is facing capital murder charges after a shooting at an apartment complex in Texarkana. Kevonte Collins is a wanted man accused of killing Deangelo Handy and Rickalon Young. The two victims, both of whom were teen girls, were shot multiple times. Collins was critically injured in the shooting. After the shooting, Texarkana police received a court order to change the public disclosure of Collins’ identity.
Since Collins was a juvenile at the time of the shooting, his identity is being withheld to protect his privacy. However, police are now aware of Collins’ identity and have issued an arrest warrant. Police think Collins may be hiding in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and have been searching for him. A recent report suggests that Collins has been in Dallas several times in the past two weeks. Collins was also believed to have a gun.
Collins is now accused of the December shooting. He is 16 years old and was wanted by Texarkana police. He is charged with capital murder. Despite his injuries, Collins is expected to survive the case. While his family is mourning, the community has come together to support him. Collins’ mother has released a statement expressing her hope that her son will be okay. She added that Collins is an inspiration.
A Texarkana shooting police report describes Collins as a disturbed teenager who posed a threat to other teens. It doesn’t give much hope that he will be convicted. If convicted, Collins will be tried as an adult. He will be charged with murder and assassination. The trial will last for at least two years. And, if convicted, Collins could be sentenced to death.
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