Two Arrested in Home Break-in, Shooting Near Tye
By: Press Release
Updated: February 15, 2013
On Thursday, February 14, during the early morning hours, deputies of the Taylor County Sheriff's Office responded to a shooting in a rural area south of Tye, Texas.
CID detectives were quickly summoned also. The investigation that followed, revealed that a 30-year-old man was awakened at his home by someone trying to kick open the door. The intruder eventually entered the home through a broken window, while another man waited outside.
The intruder shot the resident, at close range with a single shotgun blast. The victim was struck in the neck, and is currently in critical condition following surgery at a local hospital.
The two suspects were ultimately captured and charged. A quick response by patrol deputies resulted in the capture of one of the men driving away from the scene of the shooting. A second man jumped from the fleeing vehicle and ran into a wooded area. He was apprehended by Sheriff's Office narcotics agents and detectives about eight hours later, a few miles from the scene of the shooting.
This arrest was made possible with the assistance of the French Robertson Tracking Dog Unit. The two men arrested are: Donald Ray Grooms, 28, charged with Burglary of a Habitation with Intent to commit a Felony, to wit: Aggravated Assault (a first degree felony), and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon (a third degree felony), and Billy Leroy Ammons, 34, charged with Burglary of a Habitation with Intent to commit a Felony, to wit: Aggravated Assault (a first degree felony).
Grooms is currently held in the Taylor County Jail on bonds totaling $1,100,000. Ammons is in the Taylor County Jail also, held on $50,000 bond.
CID detectives were quickly summoned also. The investigation that followed, revealed that a 30-year-old man was awakened at his home by someone trying to kick open the door. The intruder eventually entered the home through a broken window, while another man waited outside.
The intruder shot the resident, at close range with a single shotgun blast. The victim was struck in the neck, and is currently in critical condition following surgery at a local hospital.
The two suspects were ultimately captured and charged. A quick response by patrol deputies resulted in the capture of one of the men driving away from the scene of the shooting. A second man jumped from the fleeing vehicle and ran into a wooded area. He was apprehended by Sheriff's Office narcotics agents and detectives about eight hours later, a few miles from the scene of the shooting.
This arrest was made possible with the assistance of the French Robertson Tracking Dog Unit. The two men arrested are: Donald Ray Grooms, 28, charged with Burglary of a Habitation with Intent to commit a Felony, to wit: Aggravated Assault (a first degree felony), and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon (a third degree felony), and Billy Leroy Ammons, 34, charged with Burglary of a Habitation with Intent to commit a Felony, to wit: Aggravated Assault (a first degree felony).
Grooms is currently held in the Taylor County Jail on bonds totaling $1,100,000. Ammons is in the Taylor County Jail also, held on $50,000 bond.
