Deadly New Year’s weekend in SETX

The old year went out and the new year came in, but not without deadly tragedies in Southeast Texas that left six dead and families and friends stunned.

During the New Year’s weekend, six people were killed in three separate incidents, including four in a reportedly apparent triple murder-suicide in Orange County.

Residents living along North 8th Street and vicinity in Orange woke up New Year’s Day to find out that four people, including a teenager, died from gunshot wounds.

According to information released by the Orange Police Department (OPD), officers were dispatched to 2406 North 8th St. at 7:50 a.m. regarding a shooting and found the bodies of four people inside the residence. Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 Chad Jenkins pronounced the four subjects deceased and ordered autopsies on each. The victims were identified as Bobby Kiel Jr., 53; Porsha Kiel, 34; Janiya Lewis, 17, all of Orange; and Lester Lewis Ray Jr., 33, of San Augustine.

Lester and Porsha Lewis, who were married, owned a single-family home on County Road 170 in San Augustine since September 2021, according to San Augustine County Appraisal District records.

San Augustine County Sheriff Robert Cartwright said his deputies were called out a couple of times about disturbances at their home in the Roberts community, south of San Augustine. He said there were no arrests or charges filed.

OPD reported the Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the incident as a homicide with one of the victims as the possible gunman. Romona Barnes, the wife of Bobby Kiel, claimed on social media that her husband, daughter and granddaughter were murdered by Lester Lewis, but police have yet confirmed her allegations.

Sgt. Issac Henry III said more information will be released later but does not have specific time or date.

“However,” Henry added, “our investigation division is very thorough and will not rush when it comes to specific things.”

Kiel, a Kountze native, worked at International Paper, according to his social media account.

Janiya Lewis was a student at Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School in Orange.

Trail ride shootings

A large gathering for a “trail ride” on Bigner Road slowed down police and first responders after a shooting was reported on Dec. 30. Beaumont Police Department (BPD) officers responded to the 6500 block of Bigner Road after a caller reported two victims were shot and lying near the West Beulah Baptist Church.

According to BPD, officers arrived and maneuvered through approximately 1,000 patrons attending the event. Because of the large amount of people, Beaumont EMS and patrol units could not reach the victims by automobile. Officers approached the victims on foot and carried the gunshot victims out of the “uncooperative crowd,” according to BPD.

One victim was taken to an awaiting Beaumont EMS unit and the other victim was transported to a local hospital by BPD patrol unit. A third gunshot victim arrived at a local hospital by private vehicle.

Shooting victim, Rodtravian Perry, 25, of Houston, was pronounced deceased; a second shooting victim was listed in critical condition; the third suffered nonlife-threatening injuries.

BPD requested a multiagency response from local law enforcement to assist with clearing and securing the crime scene. Detectives believe there are numerous witnesses and possible cell phone video of the incident, but they have not received any cooperation from witnesses on the scene.

BPD reported they received multiple calls for service throughout the night about the “trail ride.”

According to Officer Haley Morrow, BPD public information officer, two additional gunshot victims were later reported, both having minor injuries.

During the initial response to the shootings, officers located Tom Simpson, 26, who had an AR pistol in his waistband. Simpson was arrested for unlawfully carrying a weapon and the incident is believed to be separate from the shooting at this time, according to BPD.

Anyone with information about the triple shooting is asked to call BPD at (409) 832-1234 or submit a tip to Southeast Texas Crime Stoppers at (409) 833- TIPS (8477). All Crime Stoppers tips are anonymous and callers may be eligible for a cash reward.

Store clerk killed

BPD reported one suspect was arrested and another suspect is at large in the Dec. 29 shooting death of a store clerk at Kris Food Mart, 3090 Gulf Ave.

BPD responded to the convenience store at 10:09 p.m. regarding a shooting victim and discovered the store clerk dead from gunshot wounds. Preliminary investigation revealed two suspects entered the store and robbed the clerk at gunpoint. One suspect shot and killed the clerk, before stealing cigarettes and fleeing on foot.

The clerk was identified as Sheikh Abir-Hossain, 34, of Beaumont.

According to BPD, officers working off of multiple Crime Stoppers tips identified Keandre Marquis Robinson, 19, of Beaumont, as one of the suspects.

Pct. 1 Place 1 Justice of the Peace Naomi Doyle issued the murder warrant and set bond at $800,000 for Robinson. Three hours later, Robinson was arrested. BPD reported Robinson allegedly shot and killed the clerk during the aggravated robbery.

Jan. 2, a murder warrant was issued by Doyle for the second suspect, Larry Nathaniel Hagan, 26, of Needville, who has ties to Beaumont. His bond was set at $1 million.

Hagan, who was still at large at press time, was believed to wearing a black hoodie with “NERD” printed on it and armed with a handgun, according to surveillance video obtained by detectives.

A GoFundMe account organized by the Bangladesh Student Association (BSA) at Lamar University for AbirHossain stated survivors include his wife, a 2-year-old daughter and his mother. BSA also stated that Abir-Hossain was pursuing his dreams at Lamar University