A Texas man was shot and killed while mowing his lawn, and police believe he had a previous encounter with the alleged gunman.
The Beaumont Police Department announced on Facebook that 54-year-old Larry Fitzgerald Williams was arrested on Monday following an investigation into the homicide of 51-year-old Brian Lewis. Lewis was shot on Saturday while mowing his lawn by a man seen on neighborhood surveillance cameras fleeing the scene on a motorcycle.
Williams was apprehended after a judge signed a warrant for his arrest, which reportedly detailed a violent history between the suspect and his alleged victim.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by local Fox affiliate KFDM, Williams was previously charged with a violent attack on Lewis in 2024. The trial for Williams, who was charged with aggravated assault, was set to begin in July.
According to the affidavit, “Williams had made multiple statements that Lewis needed to drop charges or Williams would kill Lewis.” According to KDFM, Williams had been featured in a segment about the previous assault, during which Williams allegedly beat Lewis with brass knuckles, which resulted in a monthslong period in the intensive care unit. Lewis reportedly suffered injuries to his head and skull.
Williams surrendered to police after appearing on the KDFM segment “On the Run.”
On Saturday, Beaumont Police stated that they responded to reports of a shooting at Lewis’ rental home at 1:44 p.m. Lewis had been cutting his lawn on a riding lawnmower when he was shot. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
Around 1:45 p.m., the Beaumont Police Department’s Real-Time Crime Center captured footage of a figure on a motorcycle. The description was similar to Williams’, and an arrest warrant was issued for him on Sunday. He was taken into custody in Houston.
Police said that Williams allegedly “targeted the victim,” referring to Lewis, because he was “cooperating in a criminal case against him.”
