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Moore
A Jefferson County grand jury on Feb. 14 returned a murder indictment against 17-yeear-old Terrance Trent Moore, of Beaumont, for the December 2023 murder of Ricky Yates Jr.
According to the probable cause affidavit for Moore’s arrest, Beaumont Police Department (BPD) Detective Jason Torres was dispatched to the 3900 block of Bayou Road in Beaumont at 8:38 p.m. in reference to shots fired. A witness told officers he had heard several gunshots and observed three unknown black males exit a house at 3950 Bayou Road and leave in a suburban.
Officers responding to the residence observed the front door had been kicked open and Ricky Yates Jr, 32, was lying on the floor in a pool of blood after having been shot numerous times.
Justice of the Peace Ben Collins ordered an autopsy and Yates’ death was ruled a homicide.
While on scene, Detective Torres received a call advising the officer that two vehicles were on fire nearby in the area of Treadway and Concord. Beaumont Fire Department responded and extinguished a red 2018 Kia Optima and a 2001 Chevy Suburban matching the description of the vehicle fleeing the scene of the gunfire given by the witness.
Officers located a sweater on the ground next to the burned cars that had blood on it. The bloody outerwear matched evidence collected at Yates’ house that led the detective to believe one of the suspects had been shot, although that information that was never released to the public or family.
During the course of the investigation, Torres spoke with a person that stated one of the suspects, who goes by the nickname “Deuce,” had been shot and was hiding out. The person told the detective that “Deuce” was shot in the foot and gave further information as to who the individual’s family members were. A “person” search warrant was rendered for “Deuce,” aka Terrance Moore, to allow investigators to look for injuries; a round scar approximately an inch or two above Moore’s ankle, consistent with a gunshot wound, was noted. Torres also obtained surveillance video of Moore the day after Yates’ murder, which showed the teen suspect limping around and barely able to walk.
Moore remained in custody at the Jefferson County Jail as of press time, as does 43-year-old Leroy Harris Jr, who is also charged with Yates’ murder.
In an unrelated incident just five months prior to Yates’ murder, BPD responded to 7390 Pindo Circle in reference to a suspicious vehicle on July 17, 2023, to find five subjects inside an SUV with firearms in open view. During the investigation, a total of four firearms, ski masks and gloves were recovered. Moore was arrested then, too, and charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon; he was subsequently released on a $5,000 bond. Kenyon Thibodeaux and three juveniles age 15, 15, and 16 were all taken into custody during this same event.