Port Arthur police are investigating the homicide of a 16-year-old male shot to death outside a convenience store late Wednesday.

The Port Arthur resident was shot in the back and found near the gas pumps in front of the store, located at 2248 Gulfway Drive, Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Pct. 7 Brad Burnett said. An autopsy was ordered.

The victim died at the scene, according to information from the Port Arthur Police Department, who responded to a call at the station at 10:38 p.m.

“He had a lot of support and there were people praying for him,” Burnett said, describing the scene.

PAPD’s Criminal Investigation Division was following leads and information gathered at the scene.

 

Unrelated shooting

PAPD also responded to a non-fatal shooting at the Driftwood Inn on Memorial Boulevard around 3 a.m.

PAPD Det. Mike Hebert said a bullet grazed the victim and KFDM reported the person was taken by ambulance to St. Mary Hospital.

Hebert said the two shootings were unrelated.

 

Homicides this year

The fatal shooting of the teen on Wednesday is the third confirmed homicide in the city this year.

• Aletha Gonzalez, 34, died on Feb. 24, due to blunt force trauma to the head at a home in the 2100 block of Birch Street. Her boyfriend, Daniel Shackelford, 34, was charged in the homicide.
• Javier Palacios, 22, was shot to death in an alley in the 1000 block of Delaware Drive on April 1. No arrests have been made.

Police continue to investigate whether the March 11 shooting death of Devonte Demarcus Gillam, 19, at Cedar Ridge Apartments was intentional or accidental.

If you have any information on this or any other crime, call Crime Stoppers of SETX at 409-833-TIPS (8477). You won’t be asked your name and you may be eligible for a cash reward. You can also make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers by downloading the P3 Tips app on your smartphone.