Murder not a hate crime, but a disagreement between lovers
Published 10:18 am Tuesday, February 10, 2015
- Carlton Ray Champion Jr.
Police say the murder of transgender woman “Ty” Tyrone Underwood was not a hate crime but rather the result of a disagreement between lovers.
Carlton Ray Champion Jr., 21, of Longview, was arrested by the Tyler Police Department on Jan. 29 for a probation violation in Gregg County. Champion appeared to be the prime suspect at the outset of the investigation, according to the official affidavit. Tyler officers found Tyrone Underwood, 24, of Tyler, dead in a vehicle from multiple gunshot wounds in the 400 block of West 24th Street around 2:47 a.m. Jan. 26.
Underwood self-identified as “Ty,” a transgender woman, according to family members.
Early interviews with Underwood’s roommate and other friends revealed Underwood had been dating Champion for the last few weeks.
During an early police interview, Champion told police he had not spoken with or seen Underwood since 11 p.m. Jan. 25.
Champion said he had been communicating with “Tyra” Underwood through a messaging application, Kik. Police established that Underwood and Champion were in a sexual relationship as far back as Jan. 19.
However, Tyler police investigators located cellphone messages between Champion and Underwood the night of the murder that indicated the two intended to meet after midnight. The messages indicate there was an argument between the two.
Underwood felt Champion had lied in earlier messages. The messages ended with Underwood wanting to end the relationship with Champion.
“That’s how it is now,” Champion messaged Underwood according to the affidavit. “I will make it up.”
Around 1:39 a.m. the two decided on a location to meet.
At 2:06 a.m., Champion told Underwood that he was headed toward “25th” (street) and to “chill,” according to the affidavit.
The affidavit said there was a final message from Underwood to Champion asking him to explain why he had lied earlier.
Surveillance video from Texas College, where Champion plays football, showed Champion leaving his dorm around 2:13 a.m. and returning around 2:27 a.m. Police believe the murder occurred during that time, according to the affidavit.
Champion became defensive and uncooperative when police asked him about inconsistencies in his earlier interview.
The camouflage jacket Champion was seen wearing while leaving his dorm in the surveillance video tested positive for traces of blood, according to the affidavit.
Champion remains in Gregg County jail and faces first-degree murder charges in Smith County. Judge Christi Kennedy, 114th District Court, placed a $1 million bond on Champion.
Organizations representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender held a candlelight vigil in Underwood’s memory last week. Groups had been watching the case closely for any indication it was a “hate crime” and based on Underwood’s sexual orientation.
According to the affidavit, Champion’s father told police he’d heard his son was meeting with Underwood and that Champion thought Underwood was a woman.
But police say text messages indicate Champion knew Underwood was a man at least a week before the murder.
“It wasn’t a hate crime,” said Tyler Police Department Public Information Officer Don Martin. “They were in an established physical relationship well before Underwood’s death.”
