Two men accused of killing Harris County Pct. 3 Deputy Omar Ursin will remain behind bars, at least for now.
In a court appearance Monday morning. a judge set bond for both suspects at $1 million or more.
Ahsim Taylor Jr. and Jayland Womack, both 20 years old, were out on bond for unrelated murder charges when Ursin was shot and killed while picking up food for his family on Aug. 28 in the 11900 block of Madera Run in the Atascocita area, records show.
Their bonds were revoked, and prosecutors want both men to remain behind bars until they go in front of a jury.
It was revealed in court that Taylor Jr. was out on bond for a murder involving a car sale gone bad.
A judge reset his bond at $2 million.
As for Womack, he was out of bond for a murder involving a drug sale, officials said.
His bond was reset at $1 million.
Prosecutors said ankle GPS monitors on both suspects placed them on the street where Ursin was killed at the same time of his death.
Witnesses also told investigators they saw the car they were in a drive past Ursin’s car and someone inside open fire.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg and Harris County Pct. 3 Constable Sherman Eagleton were both present for the court proceedings.
“If an off-duty deputy is going to get dinner for his family, and is shot and killed on the way home… if an off-duty deputy is not safe, then who else is safe?” Eagleton said outside the courtroom.
Eagleton said the repeated release of violent suspects on bond by Harris County judges is exposing the community to violent offenders over and over again.
There will be another hearing on Friday at 10 a.m.. Prosecutors are asking the judge to not release the suspects at all, even if they are able to meet their $1 million and $2 million bonds.
Womack is accused of shooting Devin Wood on January 2, 2021. He was on a $35,000 bond out of the 208th District Court in Harris County. In December of 2021 a co-defendant, Kevin Briscoe, who according to bond conditions was not to have contact with, was found with Briscoe. He also had a firearm and marijuana on his person. On March 21, 2022, he was released again on a $75,000 bond.
PREVIOUS HOMICIDE STORY
On Saturday, December 2, 2021, at approximately 2:29 pm, deputies with the Harris County Pct 4 Constable’s Office responded to a shooting in the 16000 block of Coco Shores in northeast Harris County. Upon arrival, deputies found the victim, 19-year-old Devin Wood, unresponsive from apparent gunshot wounds. Wood after being treated on the scene by EMS was airlifted to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he was pronounced deceased from his injuries shortly after his arrival. Deputies spoke with the victim’s parents who indicated they heard several gunshots before the victim came into the residence and stated he was shot. While still on scene, deputies received a call that two black males, with gunshot wounds, had been dropped off at Memorial Hermann Convenient Care located at 1420 E Sam Houston Parkway. Deputies responded to the location and detained both males.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Homicide and Crime Scene units responded to conduct the investigation. Homicide investigators were able to determine the victim’s shooting and the two shooting victims at the convenience care were related. Based on the investigation, investigators charged Kevin Briscoe and Jaylan Womack, both 18-years-of-age, with the shooting death of Devin Wood. Robbery appears to be the motive behind the shooting. Both Womack and Briscoe are currently booked into the Harris County Jail.
