Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Austin, TX: Police say jealousy fueled killing

Teen was talking to his baby's mother

Updated: Monday, 31 Oct 2011, 5:52 PM CDT
Published : Monday, 31 Oct 2011, 4:51 PM CDT

Kate Weidaw
AUSTIN (KXAN) - Police have arrested 22-year-old Timothy Phillips in the pre-dawn Friday shooting death of a teenager in East Austin.

Gerrell Earls, 18, was shot to death at the Walnut Creek Apartments complex off Springdale Road in what appears to be a jealous domestic dispute.

According to police, the shooting happened around 1:40 a.m. in the parking lot. Witnesses told police they saw several people running from the scene.

According to Phillips' arrest warrant, Dameetrya Easley had a baby with Phillips.

Easley was at her apartment complex with Earls that night when Phillips came to her apartent and knocked on her door. When Easley didn't answer the door, Phillips got into the apartment by crawling through the window.

Once inside her apartment, Easley claims Phillips started assaulting her pushed her into a closet.

Phillips wanted to fight Earls so they moved the confrontation out into the apartment parking lot.

Easley told police that Phillips "is very controlling and does not like her to talk to other men."

As the two men were fighting in the parking lot, Easley called 911. A few minutes later, she heard a gun shot.

Ausitn-Travis County Emergency Medical Services crews tried to save Earls' life, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Phillps has been charged with murder and his bond set at $100,000.

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