Suspects wanted for retaliation
Published 11:16 pm Tuesday, May 8, 2018
The Selma Police Department has identified two persons of interest in what are believed to be acts of retaliation for the murder of a 26-year-old Selma man last month.
Ernest Weaver Daniels III was shot and killed just before 3 a.m. Saturday, April 28 at the Raceway gas station on Highland Avenue. He was pronounced dead on the scene by Dallas County Coroner Alan Dailey from multiple gunshot wounds.
Multiple shootings and a suspected arson followed suit in the days following Daniels’ death.
According to Selma Police Chief Spencer Collier, 19-year-old Ladavious Deonte Hall is wanted for first-degree robbery. Hall allegedly used physical force and stole an AK-47 7.62 mm rifle from a victim in Selma the day Daniels was killed.
Collier also identified 26-year-old Lamarius “Pooh” Rashad Prince, who is wanted for allegedly interfering in governmental operations. Prince allegedly interfered with the crime scene investigation at the Raceway.
Collier said even though Hall and Prince are wanted for two unrelated incidents, they are both persons of interest in what police believe to be a retaliatory shooting on the 200 block of Minter Avenue on April 30.
A house on Minter Avenue, which Collier said last week was believed to be the home of the parents of one of the men suspected of killing Daniels, was shot into several dozen times.
The house was riddled with bullet holes, and dozens of shell casings from high-powered assault rifles were found on the scene.
“’Street justice’ of shooting into homes of suspects’ family members is cowardice and barbaric. We have unrelated warrants for Prince, who is well-known to Selma police, and Hall,” Collier said.
“However, we believe they have knowledge pertaining to the retaliation that has plagued Selma as a result of this homicide. We consider them both armed and dangerous, and I will not allow one of my officers to be hurt by one of them.”
Collier said Hall and Prince are also believed to be involved in “undisclosed criminal acts” that are believed to be retaliation for Daniels’ death.
A suspected arson at an apartment at the Rangedale Annex on L.L. Anderson Avenue is also believed to be an act of retaliation. Jeffery Bennett, 20, and Vincent Devonte Ellis, 21, have been arrested and charged with murder for allegedly shooting and killing Daniels.
Their bond was set at $2 million by District Judge Robert Armstrong last week during an arraignment hearing.
“The shooting death of Ernest Daniels demonstrated a complete lack of regard for human life,” Collier said. “I praise Judge Robert Armstrong for setting a $2 million bond on Bennett and Ellis, and I assure the citizens of Selma that we will not quit until the two additional shooters are apprehended.”
Two other suspects, who were identified by Selma police as Jimmie Lee Tyus and Darryl Davuntay Kennedy, are still being sought. They are also facing murder charges.
Collier is asking for Hall and Prince to turn themselves in, as well as Tyus and Kennedy.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call 911 or Sgt. Jeff Hardy at (334) 874-1214.