Waco man sentenced to seven years in prison in 2020 during which he shot and killed a rival gang member

WACO, Texas (KWTX) – One of two suspects in a gang-related shooting that left a Waco teen dead in 2020 was sentenced Thursday to seven years in prison.

Elijah Marquise Thompson, 26, of Waco pleaded guilty to murder in Waco’s 54th State District Court in the June 2020 shooting death of Tyrese Lewayne Carroll.

Dallas County Prosecutor Jason Hermus recommended that Judge Susan Kelly sentence Thompson to seven years in prison.

Carroll, 19, was on the phone with his brother when he was shot to death around 2 a.m. near the Whataburger restaurant at North Valley Mills and Lake Air Drives, according to an arrest affidavit.

Malachi Jawan Wright, 26, was also charged with murder in the incident. He has set a trial date of March 31, 2025 in his case, which is also being handled by the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, because McLennan County District Attorney Josh Tetens has removed his office from handling the cases.

Tetens said he had consulted with relatives of the defendants while in private practice and had resigned from office “out of an abundance of caution” even though he had not been hired to represent either defendant.

Hermus declined comment after the plea hearing, as did Clarie Crouch, a spokeswoman for the Dallas County district attorney’s office.

Thompson must get credit for serving at least half of his seven-year sentence before he can apply for parole, which won’t take long because he will get credit for the 1,540 days he spent in McLennan County Jail, waiting on his case. to solve.

After accepting the plea deal, Kelly asked Thompson if he was “done with all this gang stuff.” Thompson said, “Yes, ma’am.”

“Have you lost some friends?” the judge asked. Thompson said yes.

“You’re going to come back and live in our community, and you’re going to live peacefully?” Kelly asked. Thompson said yes.

“And will you be a good role model for other young people when you return?” the judge asked. Thompson said yes.

“I’m going to look,” the judge said.

Waco police who responded to the shooting learned that Carroll was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Investigators later determined the shooting was the result of “an ongoing feud between two local gangs,” both of which “have been involved in multiple shootings,” according to an arrest affidavit.

A witness told police that Carroll was shot after he walked up to a silver Ford Fusion driven by Wright. The witness told investigators that Wright shot at Carroll through the driver’s side window, an affidavit alleges.

Then, according to the witness, “the right rear passenger door opened and Elijah Thompson got out and started shooting at Carroll until he fell to the ground.”

Carroll’s mother gave a victim impact statement after Thompson was convicted, asking him why he had to keep shooting her son after he had already been shot.

“I don’t feel like no one wins in this situation,” she said. “Tyrese is gone and you will carry this on your back for the rest of your life. Tyrese has a son. You have a son. We don’t need them growing up with what their father went through.”

She said she has no hatred for Thompson and is not seeking revenge.

“I hope you have enough time to think and get your thoughts in the right way. Get your mind right. I just want to know why you kept shooting.”

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