TYLER, Texas — Arrest documents show police believe a 25-year-old man and teenager killed a Tyler man while stealing his vehicle earlier this month along US Highway 69 North in Tyler.
Joshua Renae Bryant, 25, is charged with capital murder in connection with the shooting death of Nathan Charles Martin, 20, of Tyler, while Caleb Ward, 16, from Whitehouse, is wanted on the same charge. Ward is considered armed and dangerous, Tyler police said Wednesday.
Martin was found dead on the road with a gunshot wound at the intersection of Highway 69 North and CR 489 on Feb. 7 around 11:40 p.m.
According to an arrest affidavit, Martin’s body was found with multiple bullet wounds and investigation showed a bullet entered Martin’s back and went through his upper left chest. Nearby his body, a detective found fresh tire tracks where it seemed like someone performed a U-turn and almost got stuck in mud.
The tracks showed the vehicle accelerated onto Highway 69 North and headed toward the West Northwest Loop 323. Later, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office called Tyler police saying deputies found a wrecked, unoccupied Ford Mustang at FM 317 and FM 314. A search determined the license plate was registered to Martin, the affidavit read.
According to the document, officers used a driver’s license and a prior book-in photo to identify the dead body as Martin. When deputies arrived at the wreck scene at 1 a.m. Feb. 8, the vehicle was still warm to the touch and the highlights were still on. Further investigation found blood inside the car, and both the driver's seat and front passenger dash area had been shot. The vehicle was towed for evidence.
Just before 3 a.m., the Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a call about someone entering a resident’s vehicle and leaving a dog inside. The person who called lives about 500 feet from where Martin’s body was found, the affidavit said.
Bryant was found nearby and when questioned about the burglary, he told deputies he believed the vehicle belonged to one of his friends. Bryant was then booked into jail for burglary of a vehicle. Officers also found a drug believed to be crack cocaine on his person and a strip search at the jail found narcotics that seemed to be cocaine, ecstasy and a scale.
In a police interview, Bryant said he is homeless and has been living in vehicles or outdoors for five years. He admitted to driving Martin’s Mustang on Feb. 7. Bryant said he initially rode in the front passenger side while Martin drove. Then, Bryant said he and Martin went to a smoke shop, where Bryant purchased a THC edible gummy that he consumed, the affidavit stated.
The document said Bryant started driving the car because Martin was tired. Bryant remembered driving to a 7-Eleven, but when asked about the incident at Highway 69 and CR 489, he claimed he “blacked out” and had no memory of the events on Feb. 7. Bryant also said he didn’t know who else would’ve been in the vehicle.
Detectives found surveillance video from a local business that captured multiple sounds of gunfire that were followed by a car horn, a faint scream and the Mustang fleeing the scene quickly as tires spin south on US 69 North toward Loop 323. A male figure, who police believe to be Bryant, could be seen running away from the Mustang after the shooting, the affidavit read.
In the affidavit, the detective said he believes and evidence shows there is a second suspect in the death of Martin; however, the affidavit did not name Ward.
Those who have information about the location of Ward are asked to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.