Final moments of victim's life recorded on Ring doorbell camera
During the last Sunday morning service of September, the fellowship of New Day Deliverance Holiness Church in Beaumont gathered to honor the life of one of their own, a long-time congregant tragically murdered in front of her own home this past week.
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 in custody for Gilbert’s murder as of press time.
During the brief, 10-minute memorial service, Bishop Eldridge Charlot Sr. spoke of Gilbert’s commitment to the church, her family and her profession. According to the Bishop, Gilbert was born and raised in Orange, and was a plant operator in Orange at the time of her death.
“Knowing the sweet, loving person she was, she didn’t deserve what happened to her,” Charlot reminisced along with the assembled congregation. Gilbert’s death, he added, was “a senseless crime.”
“If you would have needed something, knowing Ebonie, and who she was, she would have given it to ya,” Charlot reflected, impacted by the violent end to the life of a woman who only knew work and church. “You didn’t have to kill her.”
Three men, 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.
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 codefendant Turner. 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 at 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.
All three murder suspects remained in custody in the Jefferson County Correctional Facility as of press time.
BPD homicide investigators ask anyone with any information about the homicide to call (409) 832-1234. Information can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas at (409) 833-TIPS (8477) or via the P3 tips app.
Gilbert's was the 13th murder this year in Beaumont.