Police Continue Probe of Fatal Longview Shooting

GREGG COUNTY — Family members of a 31-year-old Longview man who was shot and killed Tuesday night said they do not know the man charged in his death and said the victim was “in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Orion Marcell Peoples was found inside a residence in the 1100 block of Hutchings Boulevard with at least one gunshot wound. Troy Carnell Saddler, 18, was arrested and charged in Peoples’ death. Longview police spokeswoman Kristie Brian said officers were dispatched to the residence around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday in connection to a report of gunshots. Brian said investigators were still interviewing witnesses. “At this time, we’re unsure why they were at the residence or whether drugs were involved,” she said.

Officials said Peoples was pronounced dead at the scene. Christopher Carter, 23, of Longview told police that Saddler pointed a gun at him and assaulted him inside the home where Peoples was fatally shot. Saddler fled the scene, but was arrested after a traffic stop near the intersection of Noel Drive and Martin Luther King Boulevard, Brian said. Peoples’ aunt, Marilyn Brown Bell, said her family was notified about the shooting early Wednesday.

Saddler remained jailed Wednesday on bonds totaling $115,000, charged with murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.