VAN ZANDT COUNTY, Texas — A Forney man pleaded guilty to killing an East Texas woman during a high speed chase in Van Zandt County in August 2022.
Braylon Diamente Hicks entered the guilty plea on Tuesday for murdering Alyssa Beth Flores. The sentencing phase with courtroom testimony remained ongoing as of Tuesday afternoon, according to local court officials.
Hicks was booked into the Van Zandt County Jail on Oct. 26, 2022 for charges of murder, abandonment/endangerment of a child and evading arrest with a vehicle, according to jail records.
In August 2022, Edgewood police said officers responded to the 400 block of Downs Street in Edgewood regarding shots fired to find Flores dead at the scene. Police said a 5-month-old was taken from the scene.
Following a high speed chase in which Hicks' vehicle reached speeds over 120 mph, Hicks exited the vehicle on Highway 80 east of gateway bridge after spikes were deployed. Once he was taken into custody, law enforcement learned Hicks had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to the hospital for treatment, according to police.
Law enforcement found the 5-month-old child who was taken from the Edgewood shooting in his vehicle. The child was not in a safety seat, but the infant appeared to be unharmed and was taken by Child Protective Services for evaluation, police said.