A man who had been paroled last year opened fire in the parking lot of Texarkana Aluminum in Nash earlier today, killing a co-worker who tried to intervene, wounding his wife, and then taking his own life, according to police. The Nash Police Department identified the shooter as 40-year-old Wendell Lane Champion Jr. of Hope, Arkansas. The man who died trying to stop the attack was 48-year-old co-worker Eddie Ray Hill Jr. Champion’s wife, 37-year-old Candis Jolene Champion, was taken to a Texarkana hospital, where she was reported in stable condition. Officers say the shooting happened around 6:30 a.m., just as employees were arriving for early shifts.
Early-morning confrontation at plant
The gunfire broke out in the plant’s parking lot on Alumax Drive. When officers arrived, they found two men dead and a critically injured woman, according to KKYR. First responders moved quickly to secure the lot and the surrounding area while investigators began processing the scene and collecting evidence.
Shooter's prior convictions detailed
Public records show Champion had a lengthy criminal history, including a 2010 conviction for first-degree murder in Harris County and a parole release in 2025, according to Fox 26 Houston. The station also reports that Champion and Prinston Mortel Williams were charged in an Aug. 26, 2007 capital-murder case. Williams was later convicted of aggravated robbery and sentenced to life in prison.
Plant and victims
Texarkana Aluminum lists its facility at 300 Alumax Drive in Nash on the company website, the same location where Tuesday’s shooting unfolded. Workers showing up for early shifts were caught in the chaos. Police say Hill was shot after he stepped in to intervene in a dispute involving Champion and his wife in the parking lot.
Investigation and response
The Nash Police Department publicly extended condolences to the families and employees affected and stressed that there are no other suspects and no ongoing threat to the public, according to a police statement reported by Fox 26 Houston. Investigators remained on scene as the case stayed active, with authorities working to lock in a clear timeline and determine what led up to the violence.
What’s next
Because the shooter was on parole, the case is likely to draw scrutiny of his supervision as investigators and prosecutors review records and evidence. Officials have asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Nash Police Department through official channels while the investigation continues.
