Erin Marigene Gilligan, a 47-year-old woman from Temple, Texas, was tragically killed on June 1, 2022. The incident occurred in the 600 block of North Second Street, where police responded to a report of a gunshot victim. Upon arrival, officers found Erin Gilligan suffering from a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene, marking Temple's first homicide of the year.
The suspect in the case, 59-year-old Tommy Lee Shelton, Sr., was taken into custody at the scene.
According to an arrest affidavit, Shelton was found sitting on the front steps of the house and informed officers that his girlfriend, Erin Gilligan, was inside the house, dead on the floor. Shelton, who is African American, allegedly confessed to the shooting after being read his rights. He stated that the argument leading to the shooting was about him sending money to his daughter. The weapon, a .40 caliber Remington handgun, was recovered from a drawer in the house.
Following the shooting, Shelton drove north as far as Bruceville-Eddy before turning around and returning to the house. He called his son in Hawaii to confess to the shooting and to tell him that he would never see him again. The son then called Temple police to report the incident. Shelton was initially held on a lesser third-degree felony charge but was later indicted on a murder charge by the Bell County Grand Jury.
The investigation into Erin Gilligan's death is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Temple Police Department or Bell County Crime Stoppers. The case has drawn significant attention due to the nature of the crime and the relationship between the victim and the suspect. Erin Gilligan's death has left a profound impact on the community, and her family and friends continue to seek justice for her untimely demise.
