Gariyon Coleman, a 19-year-old African American male from Beaumont, Texas, tragically lost his life on July 19, 2018. The incident occurred at the Sunlight Manor Apartments in Beaumont's South End. On that fateful night, Beaumont Police officers responded to a call about shots fired at approximately 10:10 p.m. Upon arrival, they found Gariyon Coleman suffering from a gunshot wound.
Despite the efforts of the officers and Beaumont EMS medics, Coleman was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation revealed that Gariyon Coleman was the victim of a drive-by shooting. His aunt, Taecia Jones, took to social media shortly after the incident, urging anyone with information about her nephew's death to come forward. She also mentioned having a premonition about "something bad" happening nine days prior to the shooting. Coleman was a 2017 graduate of Beaumont's Central High School and was known for his love of football and his siblings.
In the aftermath of the shooting, no arrests were made, and the police continued to seek possible witnesses to the crime. Detectives requested that anyone who may have been in the area of the apartment complex between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. on the night of the shooting to come forward with any information that could aid in the investigation.
A year after the incident, the family of Gariyon Coleman filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Sunlight Manor and its management company, ITEX. The lawsuit, filed by the attorney representing Coleman's mother, Marietta Kidd, claimed that the shooting could have been prevented if the apartment complex had adequate security measures in place. The attorney pointed to a lack of working security features, such as a security fence, proper lighting, and security cameras, which could have potentially identified the suspects and prevented the crime.
The lawsuit sought more than a million dollars in damages, highlighting the ongoing concerns about safety and security at the apartment complex. Despite the legal action, the management company had not responded to the lawsuit, and the case remained unresolved. The family continued to seek justice for Gariyon Coleman, hoping that the legal proceedings would bring attention to the need for improved security measures and ultimately lead to the identification and apprehension of those responsible for his death.
