Kevin Freeman | Lariat Photographer
By Jonathon S. Platt
News editor
This story is the updated version of a story posted at 2 a.m.
A robbery suspect and a Waco resident are dead after a drug-related home invasion involving gunfire at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday at the 1900 block of 16th St., said Waco Police spokesman Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton.
Garrett Marshall Gage, a 17-year-old Temple resident, was shot in the leg and fled the scene. He was later detained and arrested several blocks away.
Gage, a resident, is being held without bond in the McLennan County Jail on a capital murder charge, according to police.
Authorities are unsure as to exactly how the gunfire was exchanged, but said they are sure that following the shots both suspects attempted to flee the scene.
The second suspect was wounded by a resident’s gunfire and collapsed outside the house. He was later transported to Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, according to police reports. The suspect was not identified.
According to police, an investigation concerning the incident is on going.
One of the eight residents of the house, 20-year-old Braeden Freeman, was shot and killed by a handgun, which police said was fired by one of the suspects.
After Freeman was shot, another resident, who was not identified, used a rifle to return fire on the suspects, according to authorities.
Authorities from Waco, Baylor and McLennan County responded to the incident at approximately 10:30 p.m. An ambulance arrived on the scene approximately an hour later.
“We heard ‘pop pop’ noises,” said Walled Lake, Mich., senior Brielle Boomer, who lives next door.
Hiatt said authorities are not positive of how the alleged intruders were attempting to enter the house. But authorities said the reason for the intrusion is believed to be in order to steal illegal drugs and other property.
“It doesn’t appear that this was a random incident,” Hiatt said.
Later, police reports confirmed this statement. The suspects knew who they were targeting and why, police said.
Boomer and her roommate, Beaver Falls, Penn., graduate student Sierra Davies, were at home Tuesday evening when they became aware of activity in their backyard.
“I thought someone was banging on the back of the house,” Davies said. “My bedroom window is directly by the fence that leads into the backyard – the gate and that fence. And so I heard guys enter into that gate, but my blinds were closed so I couldn’t see anyone.”
Both Boomer and Davies said this was not the first time police responded to activity from neighbors in the house. Boomer said the house was previously broken into.
Skye Duncan | Lariat Photo Editor
“We’ve been here for two years now and this is the first time anything has happened consecutively,” Boomer said.
Hiatt and Swanton said neighbors should not be concerned.
“Anytime they (local residents) hear gunshots, they need to stay away from the doors and windows and contact 911,” Swanton said. “We need them to be good, safe witnesses. Stay on the phone and report what you see, people and vehicle descriptions. Of course, safety is our first concern. We don’t want anyone putting themselves in harm’s way.”
The incident did not involve Baylor students, according to police reports.
“A lot of the details won’t come out – won’t be available – until after we’ve wrapped up our investigation here,” Hiatt said.
Reubin Turner and Jenna Press contributed reporting to this story.
