FORT WORTH -- It was the smoke shop owner who pulled a handgun and fatally shot one of the two robbers who had just grabbed money and cigarettes and were running from his store a few days before Christmas.
But it was the uninjured robber, identified by authorities as Demarcus Lynn Williams, 21, who should be charged with murder, Fort Worth police say in an arrest warrant affidavit that provided more details of the incident Thursday.Aaron Brown, 20, of Fort Worth was shot in the back Dec. 21 during the robbery of the Express Smoke, Tobacco and Gift Shop, 135 Sheffield Drive, authorities have said. He was pronounced dead at John Peter Smith Hospital, the Tarrant County medical examiner's office reported.Because Williams displayed a handgun during the robbery, an act clearly dangerous to human life, he is responsible for Brown's death, the affidavit says.Under the law of parties, also called the felony-murder rule, everyone involved in one crime can be considered culpable for the actions of a person who commits a second crime."Police are saying that if those two guys had not gone in there and tried to rob the place, then no one would have gotten killed," said Frederic White, dean of the Texas Wesleyan Law School. "Putting this activity in motion, it's a logical consequence that someone might get hurt."A witness told police that he saw Williams walk into the shop in far south Fort Worth holding a black semiautomatic handgun, the affidavit says. Brown accompanied Williams.The shop owner told police that two men forced him to the floor and threatened to shoot him if he did not obey. Money from the cash register, cigarettes, and the owner's wallet and checkbooks were taken, the affidavit says.As the robbers left, the owner drew his handgun and fired several shots.Brown collapsed before making it to the witness's vehicle. The witness said that he helped Brown into the back seat and that Williams ran away. The witness drove Brown to JPS, where he was pronounced dead, the affidavit says.JPS security officers detained the witness until Fort Worth police arrived, the affidavit says.The witness identified Williams from a photo lineup. Williams matches the description the shop owner gave of the armed robber. One of Brown's relatives told police that Williams and Brown were often seen together, the affidavit says.Williams remained in the Tarrant County Jail on Thursday night with bail set at $500,000. The pending charge is still listed as aggravated robbery.Mitch Mitchell, 817-390-7752Twitter: @stcrimeHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
