TYLER — The Tyler Police Department says the crime lab at the Department of Public Safety has linked a gun to the recent five shootings in Tyler.
The shootings linked were:
The victims for the first four shootings were all killed. Brockman remains in the hospital in critical condition.
Kristian Perdomo, the man Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said Monday was likely involved in the string a shootings, is currently incarcerated at the Smith County Jail under a $1 million bond.
He is facing an aggravated assault charge for Sunday's shooting of Bradley Brockman.
According to the affidavit, witnesses told responding officers a suspect wearing a red bandana and a black hoodie approached Brockman. Witnesses reported hearing a gunshot and seeing Brockman fall. The affidavit later says Brockman received a gunshot wound to the head.
Witnesses said the suspect walked to a silver 2000 Toyota Avalon, driving north on Loop 323. Police were given the license plate of the car by witnesses. He was later pulled over and arrested by Tyler police on Highway 64, near Loop 49. The affidavit alleges the license plate had been altered.
Inside the vehicle, officers found a receipt for .380 ammunition, dated November 28 from Valu + Pawn #550 pm West Gentry Parkway. Officers also found a tablet, cell phone and a receipt for the cell phone.
According to the affidavit, police discovered the car had been registered to Perdomo's mother. When police talked to Perdomo's mother, the affidavit says she told police he was living at her home. She also told police the room he was staying in was "usually locked." The affidavit says she was the owner of the car, but allowed her son to drive.
During their investigation into Perdomo following his arrest, police discovered he was a member of the Bloods street gang (a.k.a. Nortenos or North Side Bloods).
The affidavit makes no mention of the four homicides between Dec. 7 and Dec. 15.
Sheriff Smith said Monday though he has a 'high level of confidence' Perdomo is involved in the homicides, investigators are waiting for test results from the crime lab at the Department of Public Safety before filing any further charges.
