Teen charged with carrying sawed-off rifle at State Fair

Damon Donte Henry, 18, of Beaumont, was indicted April 17 on two third-degree felony charges, one for possessing a prohibited weapon and the other for tampering/fabricating physical evidence with the intent to impair.

According to the probable cause affidavit for Henry’s arrest, on March 29 at the South Texas State Fair/Ford Park, officers from the Beaumont Police Department were advised of a subject known to possess multiple firearms, instigating the Special Assignment Unit to follow Henry through the fairgrounds.

Upon noticing officers, Henry reportedly exited the line to the ride and began walking toward the exit gate, displaying special interest in whether he was being followed by police. When officers attempted to make contact, they report, Henry took off running through the parking lot and fled. One officer swore that they observed Henry open carrying a non-holstered firearm and throw the firearm and his backpack down to the ground.

Officers collected the backpack and weapon and eventually caught up to Henry, who was arrested and charged with possessing the prohibited weapon, a modified short-barrel rifle that appeared to have been cut off and shortened from a standard 16-inch barrel.