Baytown tragedy:
A popular teenager dies in a fiery crash, the innocent victim of a police chase.
A popular Baytown teenager, the son of a La Porte minister, was killed in a fiery crash Friday night when two suspected shoplifters fleeing from police struck the car the teen was in, officials said.
Shawn Williams Jr., 16, died in the crash at Garth Road and Rollingbrook Drive. He was riding in a Ford Focus driven by a 17- year- old friend from Baytown, who police said was flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital in critical condition.
The Focus was one of three vehicles, including a police cruiser, that were hit about 10: 30 p. m. by two people trying to get away from Baytown detectives, officials said.
Felony charges of evading arrest resulting in death and serious bodily injury were to be filed against Shannon Joe Chauncey, 43, of Crosby, police said. Jennifer Rene Jenkins, 35, of Highlands, faced pending misdemeanor charges of evading arrest, theft and possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, they said.
About 20 minutes before the crash, police had received a report of a theft at Sears in the San JacintoMall. A woman stole some bedding and left the store in a Ford truck, police were told.
Detectives spotted the truck, then unoccupied, outside a nearby Academy sporting goods store, went in and saw Jenkins and Chauncey, officials said. According to police, Jenkins put merchandise into a bag, and Chauncey left empty- handed to get the truck to pick her up in front of the store.
Jenkins walked outside without paying for the goods and got into the Ford truck, which detectives blocked with their vehicles. As they got out to make arrests, Chauncey backed into a police car, damaging it and narrowly missing an officer before speeding out of the parking lot, the release said.
Marked police cars with lights and sirens on chased the truck southbound on Garth for about 2 ½ miles before it struck the teens’ car and a Chevrolet Silverado pickup at Rollingbrook, police said.
Both Chauncey’s truck and the Focus caught fire, police said, and Chauncey and Jenkins were arrested when they tried to run.
A couple in the Silverado were not seriously injured, police said.
Williams, son of the Rev. ShawnWilliams Sr., pastor at Gates of Praise Christian Center in La Porte, and Pleshette Williams, was a junior at Baytown’s Sterling High School, said his older sister, TylerWilliams.
A talented singer, he was in the school choir and operated media equipment at his father’s church, TylerWilliams said. In addition to the choir, he was involved in numerous other school activities, including swimming, Key Club and baking.
Her brother also worked at El ToroMexican Restaurant, his sister said.
“He was everyone’s friend,” she said. “He was just all over the place.”
Dozens of Twitter messages on Saturday memorializedWilliams, including this from budding Baytown rapper Chris Landry: “That dude was always smiling/ happy at school when I went 2 sterling. Prayers to his family & him! God Bless!”
In another Twitter message, Chad Leiper said, “Wemight miss him, but heaven gained the sassiest angel of them all. We will always remember you Shawn.” Services were pending, TylerWilliams said Saturday.