Oct. 30, three men were indicted for what investigators believe was a murder committed to cover a botched auto burglary.
Sept. 27, Ebonie Gilbert, 39, was found dead in her home by her mother about 3 p.m. Evidence from the victim’s Ring doorbell camera led to the arrest of three men; all were in custody for Gilbert’s murder as of press time.
The trio of homicide suspects, barely out of their teenage years, were arrested in the days following the crime: D’Corey Bernhard Shillow and Javonte Turner, both 21, and Tydrick Jamard Davis, 20, were arrested in connection with Gilbert’s murder, according to the Beaumont Police Department (BPD).
Excerpts of the investigations reveal that Gilbert’s mother discovered the victim’s lifeless body shortly before 3 p.m. In short succession, BPD officers and detectives were called to the 3500 block of Bennett Road, between Helbig and Bigner Roads in north Beaumont, to investigate a deceased person.
At the scene, BPD uncovered video evidence from the homeowner’s Ring doorbell video camera that showed a “brutal, cold-blooded killing,” reported BPD officials. According to investigators, the video showed Gilbert interrupting car burglars in her driveway at approximately 8 p.m. Sept. 26. She can be seen confronting two burglars and being shot by one at close range, the law enforcement agency further revealed of the video.
“When she goes out to confront these burglars, they shoot her at close range in her own driveway where she stood and then ran away,” BPD advised.
Fatally wounded, Gilbert can be seen on the video struggling to crawl back into her home and call for help while the assailants ran away. Gilbert never made it to the phone.
Images recorded of the assailants on the Ring doorbell were circulated in an attempt to identify the murder suspects and, immediately, one of the men was recognized. Sept. 27, Shillow was placed under arrest for first-degree murder after his family brought him to BPD headquarters to speak to detectives. His bond was set at $750,000.
According to a probable cause affidavit signed by Magistrate Marc DeRouen, Shillow admitted his involvement in the shooting and provided details about the incident, as well as the identity of his codefendants. According to the recitation of Shillow’s statement, he had given the clothes he was wearing during the homicide to Turner to conceal.
Sept. 29, Turner was arrested for murder after BPD Person Crimes detectives executed an evidentiary search warrant at an apartment located in the 4150 block of Maida Road, where Turner was reportedly hiding. Turner was arrested and his bond was set at $800,000.
During the search of Turner’s alleged hideout, detectives recovered police body armor that had been reported stolen during a prior automobile burglary, as well as the clothing Shillow was wearing during the homicide.
Ricky Turner, 40, was arrested for hindering apprehension of a fugitive and possession of body armor by a felon. His bond was set at $18,000.
Sept. 30, Davis was arrested by the U.S. Marshal Task Force for a murder warrant also connected to the case. Bond was set at $800,000.
Gilbert’s was the 13th murder this year in Beaumont.