Local teen charged with robbing, shooting another teen in January
A local teen has been charged with robbing and shooting another teen in January, reportedly as the victim was trying to sell him cigarettes.
Carlos Gregory Derrell Brewer Jr., 18, who lists a Burchwood Bay Road address, was taken into custody around 1:30 p.m. Thursday and charged with aggravated robbery, punishable by up to life in prison, and first-degree battery, punishable by up to 20 years, and a misdemeanor charge of first-degree criminal mischief, punishable by up to one year in jail.
Brewer, who lists no prior felony history, was being held on zero bond and was set to appear Friday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Jan. 26, shortly before 6 p.m., Hot Springs police responded to the area of Illinois and Estelle streets regarding a shooting and learned the victim, 19, had been taken to a local hospital by private vehicle where he was treated and later released.
The victim told police he was at the intersection of Omega and Vicksburg streets to meet an unknown person to sell them carts, or electronic cigarette cartridges. The victim’s mother had driven him there and was in the driver’s seat while he sat in the front passenger seat while a friend sat in the back seat behind his mother.
He said two Black males, one heavyset and one tall and slender, approached their vehicle and the heavyset one pulled out money and was counting it while the victim held the carts in his hand.
Suddenly, the heavyset one pulled a gun from his jacket and pointed it at the victim’s stomach. He then took the carts from the victim’s hand and continued to point the gun at him. The victim told his mother to drive away, which she did.
As they were pulling away, the male fired a single shot that went through the rear passenger window of the car, struck the victim in the back of the neck and hit the front passenger headrest.
Officers were reportedly able to retrieve a shell casing from the parking area at Omega and Vicksburg.
On Jan. 28, the victim’s mother told Detective Hunter Scott she was able to identify the male who shot her son as Brewer and had located several photos of him on social media.
On Feb. 16, shortly after 10 p.m., officers responded to a shots fired call in the 200 block of Lowery Street and stopped a vehicle matching the description of the one responsible for the shots. One of the occupants was identified as Brewer and a Glock 9-mm was located, which Brewer allegedly admitted belonged to him.
He also reportedly admitted he had fired the gun so he was arrested on misdemeanor charges of carrying a weapon and discharging a firearm in the city limits and officers seized the gun as evidence. Brewer was released the next day on a $1,250 bond and was appearing in district court on the charges Thursday when he was arrested on the felony counts.
The affidavit states detectives testfired the confiscated gun and using the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network were able to match the shell casings from the test firing to the casing from the Jan. 26 shooting.
On March 1, the victim and his mother came to the police department and showed Scott the photos of the alleged shooter the mother had found on social media. Both of them said it was Brewer and Scott was able to confirm the male seen in the photos was indeed Brewer based on past involvements with him, so warrants were issued for his arrest.