TYLER, Texas — A Tyler man was sentenced to 32 years Friday for killing another man following an argument at a pool hall in August 2022.
Frederick Leon Harvey, 60, pleaded guilty to murder Friday in connection with the shooting death of Horatio Williams, 57, of Tyler, on Aug. 8, 2022. He was then given 32 years in prison, according to Smith County judicial records.
According to an arrest affidavit, Harvey shot Williams after an argument that started at a pool hall, located in the 900 block of West Morris Street in Tyler. The owner of the poll hall said Harvey was inside the building joking with Williams before the shooting. He said Harvey was arguing with Williams, when they later went outside, continuing to argue and joke with each other.
The affidavit said Williams pulled out a shotgun from the silver van. Williams did not point the shotgun at Harvey, but made a statement and returned the shotgun to the van.
About 30 minutes later, the owner was leaving the building through the front door where he saw Harvey come around the west corner with a handgun in each hand. The document states that Harvey made statements against Williams and began firing at him.
Williams retreated to the van and grabbed the shotgun, firing back at Harvey, the affidavit read. The building owner said he believed Williams took several shots to the back.
The owner told police Williams is "always looking for trouble and had been making statements all day saying 'I'm going to die today or I'm going to shoot someone,'" the affidavit stated.
Detectives were told that Williams had died shortly after arrival to the hospital, the document stated.