On January 26, 2023, at approximately 5:45 a.m., Amarillo police responded to reports of gunshots in the 4100 block of South Travis Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered 24-year-old Markell Damarion Toombs-Reed lying in the street with a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators recovered 25 shell casings nearby and found a firearm in Toombs-Reed's possession.
In the months following the incident, the Amarillo Police Department sought public assistance to identify suspects involved in Toombs-Reed's death. Surveillance footage revealed a light-colored Chevrolet Impala at the scene, with multiple individuals exiting the vehicle. Authorities released images of the suspects and the vehicle, urging anyone with information to come forward.
Significant progress was made in early 2024. On January 11, 2024, police arrested 18-year-old Kevin Anthony Fortuna, charging him with murder and tampering with physical evidence. He was booked into the Randall County Sheriff's Detention Center. Subsequently, on April 4, 2024, a second suspect, 18-year-old Juade Rique Gonzales, was indicted for murder by a Randall County Grand Jury. Gonzales was apprehended at a residence in the 1900 block of South Marrs and also booked into the Randall County Detention Center.
The arrests of Fortuna and Gonzales marked significant developments in the investigation into Toombs-Reed's death. Both individuals faced serious charges, and the Amarillo Police Department continued its efforts to ensure justice for the victim and his family. The case remained active, with authorities encouraging anyone with further information to contact the Amarillo Police Homicide Unit.
