Texas State News by Betty Smith
Four people were fatally shot at a home in Texas this week. Three men met with one of the victims in the town of New Summerfield (population 1,100) under the pretense of purchasing a gun but planned to steal it.
Jesse Pawlowski, Billy Phillips, and Dylan Welch face capital murder charges in the deaths of four people in a small Texas community.
According to records from the Texas Rangers, John Clinton, 18, believed he was selling a gun when he was fatally shot in his driveway. His mother, Ami Hickey, 39, as well as Jeff Gerla, 47, and Amanda Bain, 39, were all found shot to death in Gerla's house trailer.
Texas Sheriff Brent Dickson has confirmed a relationship between Clinton and Gerla, as well as between Hickey and Bain.
Texas Ranger, Nicholas Castle, said in court affidavits that Pawlowski told investigators he met Clinton and Gerla on a dating site and entered into a sexual relationship with them. Despite his repeated visits to Gerla's home, Pawlowski wrote how he knew the couple had firearms, including a handgun Clinton wished to sell for $500.
Pawlowski told investigators that Phillips and Welch planned to steal the handgun instead of Phillips purchasing it, according to Texas court reports.
Pawlowski said that when he went to Gerla's house, Clinton, Bain, and Hickey were also there. Upon Phillips and Welch's arrival, Pawlowski and Clinton walked to the end of the driveway to meet.
The records indicate Pawlowski told investigators Phillips shot Clinton in the back of the head with the handgun he had just been given. He then proceeded to shot the other three individuals in the mobile home.
Phillips and Welch told investigators that they were not involved in the deaths.
Pawlowski's mother told Texas investigators that he told her he "shot three people" and Phillips "shot one."
Authorities in Texas say there were guns, a vehicle, and other items were stolen from the scene.
Pawlowski, Phillips, and Welch, who are being detained on Bond at $1 million each
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