LONGVIEW, Texas — Two men convicted of killing a 44-year-old man in 2023 were sentenced to 10 years' probation on Monday after they entered plea deals.
Artrell Lee Taylor, 21, and Shannon Tre'Mon Marshall Jr., 23, were arrested in April 2023 for the shooting death of Derrick Spearman. Both men originally were charged with murder, but entered guilty pleas resulting in amendments to their charges.
Taylor's charge was reduced to manslaughter, while Marshall remained charged with murder, with some of the elements of the charge eliminated. Both have been fined $5,355 and ordered to perform community service. Additionally, Taylor and Marshall have been ordered to stay away from each other, witnesses and the victim's family. The two have agreed to forfeit weapons seized by law enforcement.
Taylor was also was assigned to 60 days in the Gregg County Jail with credit for 30 days served, the Longview News-Journal reports.
The Longview Police Department said that on April 3, 2023 at around 11:20 p.m., officers responded to a call near Mobberly Ave. and Young St. regarding a shooting. Police found Spearman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died.
Police records show that Spearman's body was found in the parking lot of a vacant convenience store. Witnesses allege that Spearman was eating cookies as he walked south toward Cowboy's Quick Stop No. 2 to buy cigarettes. Witnesses reported hearing Spearman argue with the occupants of a vehicle at an intersection near the convenience store, and he began running away from the vehicle when the vehicle's driver opened fire at Spearman.
Officers identified Taylor and Marshall as suspects after locating the vehicle from security footage from nearby businesses. When officers made contact, they reported observing three individuals who appeared to be cleaning the vehicle in a nearby apartment complex. One officer reported hearing a sound that he believed to be made from a sliding metal object across the pavement parking lot, and believed it likely was made from one of the individuals throwing a firearm on the ground and kicking it, leading to the detainment of all three people.
Upon their arrest, Taylor was found with a revolver-style Ruger LCR pistol. Two expended .38 rounds were located on the ground near where Taylor was arrested, and the revolver in Taylor's possession was a .38 and had two rounds missing from the cylinder.
Officers also found a Glock 21 handgun with five rounds missing from its magazine near the scene of the arrest, as well as what police believe to be marijuana both near the discarded handgun and in the floorboard of the suspected vehicle. Marshall stated at the scene that he was the owner and driver of the vehicle and that he had active warrants.
Marshall told officers he was the driver and was stopped at the intersection when Spearman began arguing with him and told him to move his vehicle. Taylor claimed he was in the back passenger seat and that two other passengers were in the car.
The third individual arrested was determined to not be involved in any illegal activity and later released.
Marshall and Taylor say they witnessed Spearman putting his hand in his waistband and believed he had a gun. Both men said they shot at Spearman. Police records say no weapons were found in Spearman's possession.