A Texas man was tragically killed while performing yard work, an incident that law enforcement officials have connected to a prior dispute with the alleged perpetrator. The Beaumont Police Department announced the apprehension of 54-year-old Larry Fitzgerald Williams on Monday, following an inquiry into the killing of 51-year-old Brian Lewis. Lewis was fatally shot on Saturday while mowing his lawn, and neighborhood security cameras recorded a man escaping the scene on a motorcycle.
Williams was arrested after a judge issued a warrant for his detention. The warrant reportedly detailed a violent history between Williams and Lewis. A probable cause affidavit, obtained by local Fox affiliate KFDM, indicated that Williams had been previously accused of violently attacking Lewis in an incident that took place in 2024. Williams, who faced charges of aggravated assault, was scheduled for trial in July.
The affidavit reportedly disclosed that Williams had repeatedly threatened Lewis, demanding that he withdraw the charges or risk lethal retaliation. KDFM reported that Williams had been featured in a segment about the previous assault, where he allegedly assaulted Lewis with brass knuckles, resulting in Lewis’ extended stay in the intensive care unit. The assault led to severe injuries to Lewis’ head and skull. Following the KDFM segment, titled “On the Run,” Williams surrendered to the police.
On the day of the shooting, Beaumont Police responded to reports of a shooting at Lewis’ rental property at 1:44 p.m. Lewis had been operating a riding lawnmower when he was shot and was pronounced dead at the scene. Approximately a minute later, a motorcyclist was captured on camera by the Beaumont Police Department’s Real-Time Crime Center. The description matched that of Williams, leading to the issuance of a warrant for his arrest on Sunday. Williams was subsequently captured in Houston.
Law enforcement officials believe that Williams allegedly “targeted the victim,” referring to Lewis, due to his involvement in the ongoing criminal case against Williams.