The Lufkin Police Department has released the names of the victims and one of the alleged suspects in connection to an overnight shooting.
Police have identified the victims as Courtney Brown, 30, and her boyfriend, Jadelfrick Benton, 25, both of Lufkin. The third wounded person has been identified as one of the suspects – Trevion Skillern, 18, of Lufkin.
According to the LPD, around 3 a.m., police responded to a home on Ellis Avenue on reports of a shooting.
When police arrived on scene, they found a woman and a man suffering from gunshot wounds. Neighbors told officers they heard 10-20 shots fired and authorities say they found numerous shell casings outside the home and down Wesch Drive.
Police say Brown told officers that three men showed up at her home with guns early Thursday morning demanding money from her boyfriend. She said they promised to pay them today to prevent anyone from getting hurt and the men left.
Brown says the same three men returned to her home with guns around 3 a.m. today to collect the money. She was with her brother in his vehicle when the men approached and began fighting with her boyfriend in the driveway. She ducked down in the seat when she heard shots fired, and was struck in the forehead.
Roughly 30 minutes later, police say one of the suspects was taken by ambulance to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to the shoulder/chest area.
At 6:30 am., one of Benton’s family members called 911 for him from Lotus Lane Apartments. He was taken to a local hospital.
Brown and Benton’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The bullet did not penetrate Brown’s skull.
Skillern has been transported to an out-of-town hospital and is expected to recover. Charges against him are pending.
“Though we have two suspects at large, we do not believe there is a threat to the public,” Lufkin Police Public Relations Specialist Jessica Pebsworth said
The incident remains under investigation.
Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call the LPD (936) 633-0356 or Crime Stoppers at 936-639-TIPS.