News / Society

Four people shot dead in Texas, suspect arrested

Monday, 30 September 2019 10:36 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 30 September 2019 10:42 AM ]

Beaumont Police investigate the shooting deaths of four people at a home at the intersection of Highland Avenue and Lavaca Street Sunday afternoon, Sept. 29, 2019. (Photo via Beaumont Enterprise)

More than 100 people gathered across from a Beaumont duplex Sunday afternoon after four people were shot and killed - the city's first mass shooting in five years.

As a Beaumont police officer released some of the victims' names to a smaller group of about 20, members of the crowd began to cry and scream, while others embraced and held the grieving.

BPD identified Beaumont residents Bobby Wyatt, 39, Shannon Sutton, 23, Alvin Lee Bellard, 32, and Elijah Rideau, 33, as the victims.

Lively James Stratton, 22, was arrested Sunday evening and charged with four counts of murder.

Beaumont Police arrested Lively James Stratton, 22, Sunday in connection with the quadruple homicide near Alice Keith Park earlier that day.

Several people gathered near the scene of the crime said it was a previous altercation that led to the 12:13 p.m. shooting at the duplex in the 4100 block of Highland Avenue, although officers did not comment on the possible motive. Police said Stratton lived with the victims.

Anothny Bill lives on the first floor of the duplex where the shooting took place, and was awakened by the sound of gunshots.

"This is the last thing people around here need," he said.

Two of the victims were dead when officers arrived on scene, the department said. Two were critical and taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital, where they later died.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation considers a mass shooting to be one that kills three or more people, not including the suspect.

The incident brought the city's homicide total to 15 for the year, and took place in the 77705 zip code, which has had the most homicides (10) since January 2018. There have been a total of 29 since the beginning of last year.

Beaumont's last homicide victim was Jesse Rodriguez, who was shot in August after bumping into his alleged shooters chair at Cicis Pizza. Police said four people pulled up next to Rodriguez's truck at the intersection Dowlen Road and Eastex Freeway and opened fire, killing the 20-year-old. BPD arrested two Port Arthur residents and a Groves resident in connection with the murder.

(Source: Beaumont Enterprise)

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