MCSO Provides Update on Recent Homicide of 14-Year-Old

KINGWOOD, TX -- Lt. Scott Spencer of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department provided an update this afternoon on the status of the killing of a 14-year-old youth the other night in Kingwood.

“Shortly after 11 a.m. this morning, detectives executed a search warrant at the 26000 block of Knights Tower Drive,” said Spencer. “I can report that the suspect is now in custody.”

Brian Smith, Jr., aged 17, has been charged with capital murder due to the age of the 14-year-old son of a law enforcement officer who was gunned down Monday evening.

Spencer said that the motive for the killing was still under investigation, but that so far there had been no evidence uncovered of the crime being either gang related or having to do with the local high school’s upcoming Homecoming celebrations.

“Smith and the victim went to school together. They were considered friends,” said Spencer.

Detectives with the MCSO Homicide & Violent Crimes Department secured a search warrant to enter the premises. A SWAT team was called in to gain entry as a precaution in an effort to exercise caution and safety. “We turned it over to the professionals,” said Spencer. “This was a textbook search warrant execution.”

Smith will be charged as an adult - not a juvenile - in accordance with Texas law.

During his press gathering, Lt. Spencer acknowledged that many questions posed by several reporters would at this time have to go largely unanswered. “We want to be careful not to jeopardize the rest of the case,” he explained. “Everybody that was there [at the scene of the homicide] is being looked at as a witness or accomplice. Detectives are sorting through the statements right now.”

Evidence indicated, however, that the homicide of the youth was not random, according to Spencer. “It was a horrendous crime perpetrated by someone who knew him.”

When questioned about how Smith, who is under the legal age to own or fire a firearm, was able to be in possession of a handgun, Spencer said that all questions about the gun would be answered by the Homicide & Violent Crimes Department shortly. Spencer stressed that, despite the national attention of this crime, it is safe to live in Montgomery County.

“This was a true investigation conducted by our Homicide & Violent Crimes Department, good old-fashioned hard police work.”

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