Eddie Donte Hill, a 41-year-old African American man from Wichita Falls, Texas, tragically died on October 26, 2019. Hill was raised in Wichita Falls and graduated from Wichita Falls High School in 1994. He was known for his love of football and was a proud father to his son, Jaydon Paul Gawin-Hill. Hill's life was cut short when he was shot in the head during a home invasion.
The incident occurred at an apartment on Warford Street, where Hill was confronted by three individuals who
broke into the apartment to steal drugs and money. According to police reports, one of the suspects, Tyrone Smith, kicked in the door and shot Hill in the head when confronted. The other two suspects, Anthony Beamon and Autumn Cummings, were involved in the robbery and fled the scene.
The Wichita Falls Police Department arrested all three suspects shortly after the incident. Smith, Beamon, and Cummings were charged with capital murder due to the burglary and murder occurring during the same event. Smith eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of murder and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. Beamon and Cummings are still awaiting trial for their involvement in Hill's death.
Hill's death was a devastating loss for his family and friends, who remember him as a loving father and a kind-hearted individual. His father, Eddie Barry, had also been murdered in a similar home invasion in 2000, adding to the family's tragic history.
The case remains a poignant reminder of the impact of violent crime on families and communities, and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to bring justice to victims and their loved ones.
