Leanord Faris Gibson, a 66-year-old Caucasian male, passed away on February 7, 2021, in East Mountain, Upshur County, Texas. Gibson, who was born on January 8, 1955, in French Camp, San Joaquin County, California, had moved to Texas in the late 1970s and settled in East Mountain, where he raised three children. He was a twelve-year veteran of the Longview Fire Department and had also served as a rescue diver for the Hawkins, Texas Volunteer Fire Department and as an EMT.
On the day of
his death, Gibson was at his home in East Mountain watching the Super Bowl with his grandson, Nichlous Cole Williams, a 21-year-old male. During halftime, an argument broke out between Gibson and Williams. In the heat of the moment, Williams took a pistol from his grandfather and shot him. Williams then turned the .380 caliber pistol on Denene Susanne Mosley, a 53-year-old Caucasian female who was also present in the house, chasing her into a bedroom and shooting her as well. Both Gibson and Mosley were found dead at the scene.
Following the incident, Williams went across the street to a neighbor's house, where he confessed to the shootings and handed over the gun. Upshur County deputies arrived at the scene and conducted an investigation. Williams was arrested and charged with murder on February 7, 2021. He later pleaded guilty to the murders of his grandfather, Leanord Faris Gibson, and Denene Susanne Mosley. On July 7, 2022, Williams was sentenced to life in prison for the murders, with each life sentence to be served concurrently. The case was presided over by Judge Dean Fowler, with the state represented by Elected District Attorney Billy W. Byrd and the defense by Longview attorney Kevin Settles. Williams waived his right to appeal, bringing final closure to the families involved.
