Argusta Lindbergh Stansell Jr., a 48-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on January 19, 2021, in Tyler, Texas. The incident occurred in the Chapel Hill area, where Stansell was shot in the chest. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. The shooting also involved another victim, Kendrick Gill, a 41-year-old African American male from Tyler, who was shot in the leg and subsequently hospitalized.
The investigation led to the arrest of
Demarkus Keandre Bircher, a 22-year-old male, who was charged with the murder of Argusta Stansell and the aggravated assault of Kendrick Gill. Bircher was taken into custody at a residence identified by investigators. He later entered guilty pleas to both charges in the 241st District Court. For the murder of Stansell, Bircher received a 35-year prison sentence, while he was sentenced to 20 years for the assault on Gill. These sentences are to be served concurrently.
The case was handled by the Smith County District Attorney's Office, and Bircher was credited with 490 days of time served in the Smith County Jail. The tragic event and subsequent legal proceedings have left a lasting impact on the community, highlighting the ongoing issues of violence and the judicial process in Tyler, Texas.
