Officials Say They’ve Solved Smith County Cold Case

TYLER — Smith County sheriff’s officials claim they have solved a 1999 cold case. According to KETK, William Thomas Young, Jr., was killed back in 1999, but mystery remained behind his death. Authorities suspected Shams Emil Masters, 33, of murdering young, but did not have enough evidence to charge him with murder. Masters was taken into custody at the time of Young’s death for possession of methamphetamine, which law enforcement found on him. He received a 6-year prison term.

Officials tell KETK the alleged murderer and victim knew each other. Young, who was 18 at the time, was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head on February 18, 1999. He was found dead in the southern region of Smith County off Noonday Road at the Woodlands Estates Subdivision.

Masters is currently being held at the Federal Correctional Institute in Florence, Colorado for bank robbery. His release date was scheduled for January 8, 2024. He will eventually be extradited to Smith County to face murder charges.