BEAUMONT, Texas — Beaumont Police have solved all but three of the city's 18 murders that happened in 2019.
The families of the three men, one of whom was a teen, continue to wait for answers and arrests before the cases go cold.
The fatal shootings of Reginald Coleman, 17, Billy Hays, 52 and Marvin Sims, 52, are not related according to police. But all three unsolved crimes do have one thing in common — in all three cases, police believe there are witnesses who are not cooperating with the investigations.
“The common denominator in all these cases is that we believe people have information, but they are not coming forward,” Beaumont Police Officer Haley Morrow tells 12News.
Unsolved Murder: Reginald Coleman
Coleman became the city’s fourth homicide victim of 2019 when he was fatally shot near the Magnolia Swimming Pool at the Sterling Pruitt Activity Center on Gulf Street in north Beaumont.
12news originally reported during the investigation into Coleman's death that witnesses laughed and refused to cooperate with police.
Coleman, 17, was a person of interest in several recent aggravated robberies in the area.
Police released surveillance video taken in the area of the Coleman's killing, but so far there have been no major breaks in the case.
In the video, you can see what appears to be two men running away from the area.
CRIME STOPPERS | Submit a tip @ 833Tips.com
Unsolved Murder: Billy Hays
Hays’ body was found inside a home in the 600 block of Elgie Street in Beaumont’s South End on October 18, 2019, after officers were called when neighbors heard shots being fired.
Witnesses at the scene told police a suspect went into the resident, shot the victim and fled in an silver, older model SUV.
Hays, 56, was an accused squatter. 12News featured him in a story about a month before he was killed.
In that story, homeowners claim Hays showed up three weeks ago, claiming he used a FEMA grant to buy the property.
CRIME STOPPERS | Submit a tip @ 833Tips.com
Unsolved Murder: Marvin Sims
Sims became the city’s 20th murder victim of 2019.
The 52 year old's body was found near the intersection of Shamrock Avenue and Tilson Street in Beaumont’s Charlton-Pollard neighborhood just after midnight on Christmas.
When Beaumont Police arrived on the scene, they say they found Sims lying in the intersection.
A man and woman who live in the area told 12News they had no idea why anyone would want to kill Sims.
CRIME STOPPERS | Submit a tip @ 833Tips.com
Why Cases Go Cold
Morrow does acknowledge that in some cases people are afraid to talk to police.
Detectives have identified a person of interest in almost all of the three unsolved cases in 2019, Morrow told 12News. Police just don't have enough evidence to act yet.
“It is very difficult to know that someone is probably responsible for something and having your hands tied to the point that you can’t pursue it,” Morrow said.
Detectives are continuing work the three cases and track down leads but need the public’s help.
In many cases police rely on tips to crack cases like these.
“We just want those families to know that their cases are not going to be closed until we have someone in custody,” Morrow said. “There is someone out there that has information.
If you have information about any of these crimes, you can submit a tip and remain anonymous. Your tip to Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas could also earn you a cash reward of up to $1,000. you could earn a cash reward of up to $1000 by providing an ANONYMOUS tip to Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas.
CRIME STOPPERS | Submit a tip @ 833Tips.com | Call 833-TIPS (8477) or text “BMT” followed by your tip information to CRIMES (274637) from your mobile phone.
“It would give our detectives that little edge that they need to pursue those suspects further,” Morrow tells 12News.
