SMITH COUNTY, Texas — Sheriff Larry Smith says no permits were filed ahead of a weekend trail ride event in Smith County where a shooting left two people injured and three men arrested so far.
The Smith County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to reports of a shooting at 13943 CR 46, also known as Old New Harmony Rd., by Spring Creek Baptist Church on Saturday around 9:30 p.m.
According to law enforcement, two people were hurt with non-life threatening injuries. One was released overnight, while the other remains hospitalized.
Ultimately, three felons, Sir Ricardel Oritz, 29, of Tyler, Israel Allen Ortiz, 27, of Tyler and Jakeithon Marcilous Medlock, 26, of Tyler, were charged with deadly conduct discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. All of them were released on bonds totaling $20,000.
During a news conference Monday, Sheriff Smith said deputies and other officers found the three men hiding behind a vehicle with guns. He said the men didn't comply with orders and threw their guns behind them.
Smith said multiple guns were located and all three of the men had blood of them but no injuries themselves. The blood is believed to be from the shooting victims.
The sheriff said no one applied for permits in connection with the trail ride event. Smith said there was "so-called security" there, but he believes none of them were armed and they were just taking money.
Smith said those who organized the event and didn't apply for a permit will be found through the investigation.
"We weren't born last night," Smith said. "Everybody that can be charged will be charged. We'll use any statute we can to make sure this (trail ride events) stops."
He added it's unfortunate that every time there's a trail ride, there's often a shooting, noting that "undesirable people ruin the fun for everyone else."
This shooting happened during the concert portion of the event. Detectives are working to determine who owns the property and other details in the investigation, Smith said.
Officials recovered shell casings and projectiles on the scene for firearm experts to review, Smith said.
Smith encouraged people that if they hear about a trail ride event to notify the sheriff's office.
"If they know it's going to occur, let us know before it happens," he said. "If we know about it, it will be stopped before it starts. We had no idea this was going on until gunshots were fired."
The following agencies assisted the sheriff's office: game wardens, Tyler Police Department, Henderson County Sheriff's Office, Smith County Fire Marshal's Office, Bullard Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol.
This isn't the first time a shooting has broken out at a local trail ride.
In June 2022, five people were shot at a trail ride event off FM 2767. The victims were taken to separate area hospitals, with one being flown to a Tyler medical center for treatment after being shot in the face.
Smith said during Monday's news conference no mass gathering permits have been filed since the trail ride shooting in 2022.
Prior to that, in July 2020, four people were shot during a trail ride on FM 1798 in the Mt. Enterprise area of Rusk County.