It’s too early in the process to talk about whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty upon conviction, said Murff Bledsoe, first assistant district attorney. Capital murder convictions carry automatic life prison terms without the possibility of parole if the death penalty is not sought.
Andre Nathaniel Hamilton, 20, and Anthony Jerome Thomas, 23, could face the death penalty, if convicted, but Derrick Lynn Lewis, 17, was a minor when the shooting occurred. Lewis was certified to be tried as an adult, but because he was a minor at the time of the incident the maximum penalty he could receive upon a conviction would be life in prison.
Police say the three men played a role in the death of Jamie Lujan, the apartment manager at Emerald Green Apartments, formerly Spanish Trace Apartments, in Temple.
The arrest affidavit gives a sense of what the scene was like immediately before and after the shooting and indicates that the potential murder weapon is evidence prosecutors may use to help prove their case.
On Aug. 28, an officer responded to a call about a shooting and found Lujan lying on the ground in the apartment’s office with blood on his chest and wrist. The officer reported seeing shell casings on the floor and said when he tried to speak with Lujan, he was only able to mumble back incoherently.
A witness told police she saw two men approach the office and put bandanas over their faces, another pulled a hooded sweatshirt down over his face. The witness said she then heard gunshots and saw the three men run from the area.
All three of the men were later identified from photo spreads.
Another witness told police that Thomas called her and told her where a gun used in the shooting was located and asked her to dispose of it.
The woman did so, but later led officers to where the gun was located, according to the police report.
Other indictments included:
nMarilyn McQueen Wesson, 57, of Rogers, hindering apprehension, re-indictment.
nChristopher Michael Estrada, 36, of Belton, aggravated sexual assault.
n Terrance Terrail Black, 26, of Temple, cocaine possession less than 1 gram.
n Johnny Hershel Miller Jr., 52, of Belton, methamphetamine possession less than 4 grams.
n Michael Clinton Humphrey, 19, of Belton, robbery with bodily injury.
n Joseph Anthony Burlingame, 41, of Temple, burglary of a habitation.
n April Renee Beck, 25, of Temple, forgery by passing.
n Brian Aubrey Sloan, 28, of Copperas Cove, felony failure to appear.
n Carolton J. Worthington, 22, of Harker Heights, cocaine possession less than 4 grams.
n James Scott Buchanan, 18, of Harker Heights, ecstasy possession less than 1 gram.
n Christopher Edward Sircy, 18, of Harker Heights, two burglary of a habitation with intent to commit theft charges.
n Richard Jay Cameron, 20, of Killeen, two charges of theft more than $1,500.
n Elderidge Vanderhorst Hills, 33, of Killeen, assault on a public servant.
n Rebecca Dawn Lopez, 36, of Belton, robbery, re-indictment.
n Terry Jack Ray, 37, of Killeen, methamphetamine possession less than 1 gram.
n David John Thistle, 38, of Round Rock, theft of firearm.
n Micha Whitney Cormier, 20, of Killeen, unauthorized use of motor vehicle.
n Monterrio Lamar Bett, 19, of Killeen, aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.
n Keith Lamond Halton, 20, of Killeen, aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.
n Lucretia Ann James, 44, of Killeen, forgery by passing.
n Morty McCall, 29, of Copperas Cove, cocaine possession less than 200 grams.
