Man pleads not guilty to shooting teen in leg

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A Texarkana man accused of shooting a 15-year-old boy in the leg in April pleaded not guilty Tuesday at an arraignment hearing in Bowie County.

Devonta Deshun Henderson, aka “Vonta”, 25, appeared with Shoaib Daredia of the Bowie County Public Defenders Office at a court hearing before 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart. Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp said the state is still in the process of providing the defense with all of the discovery in the case but hopes to have that process completed soon. Lockhart scheduled Henderson to return to court next month.

Henderson was allegedly heard stating, “I will shoot you over $5 dollars,” during an argument with another man near an area at Fannin and 17th Streets where two teens were playing basketball, according to a probable cause affidavit. Henderson allegedly fired one shot which hit the street and ricocheted, striking the teen in the leg.

The injured boy was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where he underwent surgery. A witness at the scene told officers he heard the shot and saw Henderson, known to the witness as “Vonta,” stash the gun in a trash can behind a house on west 16th Street. Officers were able to locate the gun inside the trash can and collect as evidence.

The witness told police the gun was pointed toward the ground when it fired. While investigating the shooting, detectives received a call from a woman who claimed the gun used belongs to her. The woman said she noticed the gun was missing shortly before she received a call from her boyfriend, whom she identified as Henderson. The woman told the detective Henderson told her that “a little boy on 17th Street had shot himself with her gun,” the affidavit states.

Henderson turned himself in about a week following the shooting. He is charged in the indictment with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The charge is punishable by two to 20 years in prison. Henderson remains in custody. Bail is set at $100,000.

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