Jade Erwin, a 17-year-old girl from Elgin, Texas, was found dead at the Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Taylor, Texas, on March 21, 2020. According to the Taylor Police Department, Jade had suffered a gunshot wound to her face. The investigation revealed that the shooting occurred in a moving vehicle in Bastrop County. Marquis Wilson, a 25-year-old man from Elgin, Texas, and a female subject drove Jade to the hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival.
The vehicle was located at the hospital, and both Wilson and the female subject were found hiding in a dumpster at a nearby Beall's department store. Wilson was charged with manslaughter and held on a $50,000 bond, while the female subject was questioned and released.
Further investigation into the incident revealed that Wilson had been playing with a handgun when it accidentally discharged, striking Jade in the face. Wilson and the female subject had picked up Jade from her house in Elgin and stopped at a McDonald's before heading to the County Line Road area in Elgin. Wilson, who was driving, fired a shot from his handgun into the ground and then began spinning the gun on his finger, which led to the accidental discharge. Wilson claimed that he was driving down a back road when he fired one shot from a .38 handgun out of the car window and then played with the handgun, which discharged and hit Jade in the face. Realizing that Jade had been hit, Wilson decided to take her to the hospital in Taylor. After informing the hospital staff that Jade had been shot, Wilson and the female subject fled the scene on foot.
In January 2022, Marquis Wilson pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to two years in state prison. He received 96 days of credit toward his sentence. The court records indicated that the shooting was accidental, and Wilson was charged with second-degree manslaughter. The case highlighted the dangers of mishandling firearms and the tragic consequences that can result from such actions. Jade Erwin's death serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible gun ownership and the need for proper firearm safety measures.
