A 22-year-old man suspected in a fatal shooting told police that he shot the victim because the man was trying to take away his gun during a drug deal, according to an affidavit.
Laquentis Jermond Washington-Curley Jr. faces a murder charge in the death of 22-year-old Keyviontay Winston, who was found fatally shot in Pleasant Grove in October. An attorney listed for him in court records could not immediately be reached for comment.
On the evening of Oct. 13, Dallas police responded to a shooting call in the 8000 block of Military Parkway and found Winston shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
A witness told police that Winston set up a meeting with Washington-Curley Jr. and that he was in the car when he heard multiple gunshots, according to the affidavit.
Cellphone records showed that Winston had called Washington-Curley Jr., the affidavit says.
A second witness told police that they had received a message on social media from Washington-Curley Jr. that said Winston had tried to take Washington-Curley Jr.’s gun, according to the affidavit.
Washington-Curley Jr. was booked into the Dallas County jail on Feb. 19 on several unrelated charges, including evading arrest, deadly conduct, organized retail theft and unlawful carrying of a weapon, according to court records.
Police interviewed him March 7, and he told police that he and a man named Omar Varela met with Winston for a drug deal. Washington-Curley Jr. said he was showing Winston the drugs in the trunk of a car when Winston tried to reach for Washington-Curley Jr.’s gun, according to the affidavit.
A fight broke out and Washington-Curley Jr. shot Winston, the affidavit says. Washington-Curley Jr. said Varela shot Winston as well, according to the affidavit. He told police that he later threw his gun in the Trinity River.
It was unclear whether Varela faces charges.
Police filed the murder charge against Washington-Curley Jr. on Tuesday, and he remains in custody in lieu of $1.26 million bail.
