Shortly after 6 p.m. on Aug. 22, officers with the Huntsville Police Department responded to a shooting in the 1400 block of Sycamore that was determined to be a murder.
Earlier that afternoon a domestic incident had occurred in which Ray Charles Smith, the 61-year-old shooting victim, was determined to be the aggressor. The officers with the Huntsville Police Department responded to the incident, however, Smith had fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival. The responding officers conducted a search of the area in an attempt to locate Smith but were unsuccessful.
Approximately an hour later, officers responded to the shooting where Smith had been shot multiple times.
Walker County EMS arrived on scene and made every effort to save Smith but he, unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries.
Huntsville Police Department detectives were called to the scene to conduct an investigation. It was determined that after the domestic incident Smith obtained a ride to the area of the 800 block of MLK Blvd. Once arriving in that area, Smith was confronted by 19-year-old Garius O’Bryant 69-year-old and Joyce O’Bryant.
Shortly after, shots were fired at Smith, striking him multiple times. Smith retreated to the vehicle he had been in and the driver drove him to the 1400 block of Sycamore where police were notified of the shooting. Garius O’Bryant and Joyce O’Bryant fled the scene. During the investigation, Joyce O’Bryant was located and transported to the Huntsville Police Department for questioning.
The investigation was conducted by the Huntsville Police Department and the Texas Rangers, resulting in warrants for the arrest of Joyce and Garius O’Bryant for murder.
Joyce O’Bryant was taken into custody and transported to the Walker County Jail. Garius turned himself in last Sunday to the Huntsville Police.
Joyce O’Bryant was released from the Walker County Jail on Aug. 23 on a $75,000 bond.
Murder is a 1st degree felony and carries a possible punishment of 5 to 99 years imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and a possible fine not to exceed $10,000.
