A 19-year-old Somerville man is behind bars after a late-night trail-ride gathering near La Grange turned deadly in April, leaving a 24-year-old attendee dead. Authorities say Robert Earl Crawford III was arrested Wednesday on an unrelated matter, then linked to the shooting and charged in the case. The gunfire broke out during the "Best Thang Smokin" trail ride at the R.C. Pavilion on Munke Road on April 26, when deputies say multiple rounds were fired into a crowd. Local deputies and the Texas Rangers responded and have been working the case since.
Arrest and charges
According to KVUE, the Fayette County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as 19-year-old Robert Earl Crawford III of Somerville and said he was taken into custody following a separate arrest. After that booking, investigators connected him to the trail-ride shooting.
The sheriff's office has charged Crawford with murder and aggravated assault, and listed a mass-shooting enhancement among the allegations. Investigators, as reported by KVUE, are still reviewing evidence as the case moves forward.
What happened at the R.C. Pavilion
Deputies say the first 911 calls came in around 11:30 p.m. that night. Working their way through a large crowd at the R.C. Pavilion, they found one person who had been shot, according to KWHI. The outlet identified the victim as 24-year-old Donnell La Zay Hall Alzavier.
Alzavier was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, KWHI reported. The Texas Rangers and DPS evidence technicians assisted Fayette County deputies as they processed the scene.
Investigation and local response
KVUE reports that investigators had identified two persons of interest early in the investigation. One of them was already in custody on an unrelated charge before authorities tied that individual to the April shooting.
Officials told local media they have been combing through video and interviewing attendees to build the case. County leaders had previously cited problems at other large gatherings when they moved to tighten rules for mass events in Fayette County, a backdrop that has only added urgency to the ongoing probe.
The Fayette County Sheriff's Office has not released information on bond or court dates, and the investigation remains active. Detectives continue to review video and speak with witnesses, and anyone with information is urged to contact the sheriff's office as the case moves toward possible prosecution in county court. More updates are expected as prosecutors and investigators push the case through the system.
