BEAUMONT — Jefferson County Criminal District Attorney Bob Wortham announces that Keenan Anderson, 22 (dob 2/5/1993), last known address 2040 Oak Avenue,  Port Arthur, Texas, was sentenced December 7^th, 2015, to a term of 20 years in the state penitentiary in connection with a 2013 murder case.

On March 30^th, 2013, the victim, Marcus Senegal, and his friends went to an after-hours club called the Old School Shack in the 900 block of Houston Ave. in Port Arthur. Keenan Anderson and his friends went to the club around the same time. Anderson and his friends were on bad terms with Senegal and his friends. The two groups got into a heated argument outside the club. The confrontation escalated when Anderson drew a pistol and fired multiple times in the direction of the victim and others. When Anderson opened fire, a bullet struck Marcus Senegal in the abdomen. The victim’s friends rushed to his side, and Port Arthur Police Department and EMS units responded.

The victim was transported to Christus St. Mary’s but he ultimately died from his wound. Witnesses of the confrontation were interviewed by police, whereupon Anderson was identified by people on both sides as the shooter. However, at trial before a jury, most witnesses, in response to witness intimidation, either changed their stories or flat refused to talk. The details of the actual shooting had to come from each witness’s original statement to the Port Arthur Police Department.

The case was heard in 252^nd Criminal District Court, Judge Raquel West presiding. The jury convicted Anderson after 4 hours of deliberation. At the punishment stage, evidence revealed that Anderson was on parole for Aggravated Assault at the time of the shooting and had only been released from jail approximately two (2) months before he killed Senegal.

Prosecutor Koby Hoffpauir said, “I was very pleased with the jury’s verdict . . . this was a difficult case. When witnesses change their stories or refuse to talk about what they saw due to intimidation, it’s difficult to ascertain the truth. However, if this is allowed, dangerous people would never be held accountable for their actions. The jury recognized this and refused to allow such a blatant manipulation of the process.”

Anderson will have to serve one half of his penitentiary term before he can be considered for parole. He will also have to complete the eight year aggravated assault sentence for which he was on parole when he took the life of Marcus Senegal.