Dell Howard Tilley, a 79-year-old Black man described by his family as a loving father and a pillar of his community, was fatally shot in his Tyler, Texas, home on March 25, 2024. His son remembered him as a great father who owned a local auto shop and always tried to calm conflict.
The shooting occurred around 12:30 a.m. at the family’s residence in the 14600 block of Park Hill Drive.
According to investigators, the incident followed an argument that had lasted for several hours between Dell and his son, Christopher Keith Tilley, over the care of an injured dog Christopher had brought home. Dell’s daughter called 911 to report that her brother had shot her father. While no other family members witnessed the shooting, Dell’s wife heard multiple gunshots from another room. When deputies arrived, they attempted life-saving measures, but Dell Tilley was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later determined he had been shot five times, with wounds to his chest, torso, head, and neck.
Christopher Tilley, then 43, was detained at the scene. He smelled strongly of alcohol and told investigators he had acted in self-defense, claiming his father had been choking him during a physical altercation. However, his account was inconsistent. He claimed to remember firing only one or two shots, not the five that struck his father. He also said they were standing during the fight, but blood evidence suggested his father was on or near the ground when shot. Investigators noted a lack of scratches or other signs of a struggle on Christopher, which they found improbable given his size and his father’s age. Based on the evidence, authorities arrested Christopher Tilley and charged him with murder, booking him into the Smith County Jail on a $750,000 bond.
In June 2025, Christopher Keith Tilley, then 45, pleaded guilty to the murder of his father. A trial was held for a jury to determine his sentence. Prosecutors, who asked for a life sentence, argued that Christopher had "brutally, maliciously, intentionally emptied every bullet he had in his gun into his father." The defense asked the jury to find that the crime was one of "sudden passion," which would have carried a much shorter sentence. During the trial, Christopher’s brother testified that Christopher had a drinking problem and had threatened family members in the past, contrasting this with their father’s peaceful personality.
On June 12, 2025, the jury sentenced Christopher Tilley to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years. Before being sentenced, Christopher addressed his family in court, stating, “I’d like to say it’s my fault. I wish it didn’t happen. I’m sorry for your loss… it was a cowardly act, and I’m sorry.”
