BEAUMONT, Texas — A Beaumont woman was indicted on a murder charge for shooting death of her 66-year-old boyfriend.
Tracy Marie Samuel, 40, was charged with a first-degree felony murder charge Wednesday, October 18, 2023.
The sentence for those convicted of first-degree murder is anywhere from 5 to 99 years in prison. On top of that, the court may choose to add a maximum $10,000 fine.
On September 27, 2023, Beaumont Sheriff's deputies were sent to a reported shooting at a home in the 8000 block of A and M St. off Hillebrandt Rd in the county at about 4:20 a.m., according to a news release from the sheriff's office.
Tracy Marie Samuel, had called 911 to report the shooting telling the 911 operator that she had accidentally shot Lewis according to the affidavit.
When deputies got there, deputies found Delbert Charles Lewis, 66, suffering from a gunshot wound according to the release.
Lewis was able to tell deputies on the scene that he had been asleep when he was shot according to to a probable cause affidavit in the case. Deputies found a Smith & Wesson M/P .40 caliber handgun on the floor near the bed where they found Lewis.
Investigators from the sheriff's office spoke to Samuel the next day and told them the couple had been asleep and that she woke up and went to the bathroom where she smoked crack cocaine, according to the affidavit.
Samuel, who investigators learned lived with Lewis, told them the next thing she remembered was dropping the gun. She also told them she was shocked when the gun fired.
Lewis was taken by ambulance to a Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital where he had surgery but died six days later on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
