1. Sheriff investigating weekend shooting

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in connection with a Saturday night shooting that left one person hospitalized after the victim met an interested party from Craigslist to purchase an IPad.

As the investigation continued and the victim’s vehicle was searched, seven new IPads were found in the trunk – their origin unknown.

Sheriff Larry Smith said Davontaye Rashaud Kennedy has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the incident.

Smith said the shooting occurred on Saturday and his office learned of the incident after being notified by East Texas Medical Center that a gunshot victim had arrived by a personal vehicle about 11:15 p.m.

Smith said Tyler police arrived at the hospital and secured a vehicle found to have what appeared to be bullet holes in it.

“Sheriff’s deputies and detectives arrived and began questioning the victim and witnesses and learned the shooting occurred in the parking lot of a credit union located in the 12000 block of Texas Highway 31 West,” he said.

Smith said investigators learned the victim, identified as Jerome Williams, of Houston, and his girlfriend were at the location to meet an interested party in regard to a posting on Craiglist for purchasing an IPad.

Smith said Williams was shot in the leg after Kennedy allegedly fired into the vehicle Williams was driving.

Williams refused consent to search the 2007 Cadillac he was driving at the time of the shooting.

Smith said the detectives, armed with a search warrant, located the IPads in the trunk of the vehicle and they are now trying to determine where Williams obtained the IPads.

Smith County Jail records indicate Kennedy remains jailed on a $250,000 bond.