Summary

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – A Tyler man convicted of murder for a 2018 shooting at a shopping center was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday afternoon.

A Smith County jury deliberated for roughly an hour-and-a-half on the sentence after convicting Perdomo last week in only 40 minutes.

Assistant District Attorney Noah Coltman said “the jury made the right decision” and thanked them for their service. He also stated that he was “incredibly grateful” to the witnesses who gave critical information to the police that allowed Perdomo to be captured so quickly.

“Oh I was incredibly grateful to them. And that’s what I told the jury. They wouldn’t have caught them without those witnesses. Following him out of the parking lot, chasing him down, giving descriptions to police. It was because of them they caught Kristian Perdomo and that we had such a strong case for this jury.“

ADA Noah Coltman

Former Smith County Detective Josh Hill was the last witness to testify Wednesday morning before the case went to they jury.

He described a task force that was created with multiple agencies after several similar murders occured within a week. Hill said the task force was made up of Tyler Police, Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Rangers, FBI, ATF and DEA.

Hill interview Perdomo twice over a seven-hour period in 2018. He said that when Perdomo was shown photos of the first four victims, he laughed and smiled. Perdomo never denied to shooting the other victims, Hill testified.

Perdomo also asked the detective to not show the photos of the other victims to his mother. He talked about the abuse they both suffered at the hands of his biological father and stepfather.

After the verdict, Coltman told KETK News in an interview that the move to not charge Perdomo on the other shootings was a “strategic decision.”

During sentencing, it became clear that the cases were suffering from a lack of evidence and leads. The only item potentially linking Perdomo from the Brockman shooting to the four other killings was the same type of firearm and ammo were used. Most of the victims were also shot in the head.

2:50 p.m.

The jury has sentenced Kristian Perdomo to life in prison after deliberating for 90 minutes. A $10,000 fine was also assessed.

1:50 p.m.

Lawyers have exited the courtroom. No word on what it was, but likely some kind of juror note. 30 minutes in and no decision. It took roughly 30-40 minutes to find him guilty.

1:35 p.m.

Both sets of attorneys have walked back into the courtroom. No word on if there’s a verdict. It’s been about 15 minutes.

1:20 p.m.

Jury deliberations for the sentencing of Christian Perdomo have started. He has been convicted of murder and prosecutors ask the jury to consider that he may have committed four others.

The State wants 99 years. The defense wasn’t specific, asked for “justice.”

10:52 a.m.

Det. Hill is done with testimony.

The prosecution rests their case for life in prison. Det. Hill has rested without calling witnesses. An early break for lunch. We will be back at 12:30 for closing arguments.

10:43 a.m.

Perdomo told Det. Hill he joined the gang so that he could have friends and he only saw his mom about 10 minutes a day because she worked.

“With my occupation it never ceases to amaze what people of capable of while on it,” Det. Hill said about seeing people on meth.

Perdomo began smoking meth every day when he got out of jail.

10:39 a.m.

Defense opens with questioning about how Perdomo became tearful whenever his mom came up during the interview. He talked about how they were both abused by biological father and stepfather.

10:34 a.m.

Perdomo asked Hill not to show his mom the pictures of the victims. He also asked him to tell her he loved her. Hill said he found this odd because he never said he wasn’t the shooter.

Hill asked Perdomo why he shot five people, Perdomo responded: “I’m going to take my chances.”

Perdomo never claimed not to be the shooter. There also were not similar killings after Perdomo was arrested.

Questioning has been passed to the defense.

10:29 a.m.

Det. Hill testifies that when Perdomo was shown photos of the other four murder victims, Perdomo laughed and smiled. Perdomo also metioned that he was a member of the Bloods gang.

10:27 a.m.

Jury back in the courtroom after about 50 minutes. Both sides will question Det. Hill on his interview with Perdomo.

We should be ready for closing arguments this afternoon.

10:15 a.m.

Back in the courtroom, but still no jury.

The lawyers have agreed that only certain parts of the interview with Perdomo will be played for the jury and that both sides can ask about.

10:00 a.m.

The courtroom has now been cleared of everyone except Judge Jackson, defense counsel, and Det. Hill. Prosecution also has left. There is some kind of questioning of Hill. Jury was excused from courtroom about 30 minutes ago.

9:35 a.m.

Det. Hill was about to be questioned about his conversation with Perdomo shortly after he was arrested. Defense asked for a sidebar.

The jury has been excused until 10 a.m. while the lawyers go talk in the whole before what I assume will be a hearing.

9:30 a.m.

Prosecutor: “In your 15 years of law enforcement in Tyler and Smith County, is it unusual to have 5 homicides of any type in a 9 day period?”

Hill: “Yes.”

Prosecutor: “Even more so with the same weapon?”

Hill: “Absolutely.”

9:24 a.m.

After Benny Jackson was murdered, the third similar shooting within a few days, a task force was created with these agencies to share information:

  • Tyler PD
  • Smith County Sheriff
  • Texas Rangers
  • FBI
  • ATF
  • DEA

9:20 a.m.

Hill was assigned to look into the murder of Joel Sevilla. He noticed similarities with the murder of Mario Guzman.

“They were both executed, shot in the head in the doorway, with the same caliber.”

9:12 a.m.

Detectives found song lyrics written by Perdomo that included the line: “B****, I aim for the brain.”

The defense had no questions for Williams. Next up is Detective Josh Hill, who is now with the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office. He used to be a detective with the Sheriff’s Office.

9:06 a.m.

The next witness is Greg Williams, who is back on the stand for the third time this trial. He is being questioned about searching Perdomo’s home after the shooting of Bradley Brockman.

9:00 a.m.

McClain testifies that Jones did not die instantly from his gunshot wound to the chest. It caused damage to his kidneys, small intestine and a large amount of internal bleeding.

8:45 a.m.

Judge Jackson calls the court to order and the first witness of the day for the prosecution is William McClain, a medical examiner from Nashville, Tennessee, who performed the autopsy on Jerome Jones.

He flew in just for this testimony.

Recap

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – Smith County prosecutors are expected Wednesday to rest their case for a life sentence in a Tyler murder trial for a 2018 shopping center shooting.

Kristian Perdomo was convicted last week of shooting Bradley Brockman in the head at the Westwood Shopping Center.

During the sentencing phase, prosecutors told the jury that Perdomo had been suspected in four other unsolved murders in the nine days before Brockman’s death, but he was never charged.

The defense has countered by saying that other than the same type of ammo being used in the other shootings, there is no physical evidence tying Perdomo to them.

Prosecutors have told Judge Austin Jackson that they should be resting their case Wednesday morning. It is unclear how many witnesses the defense may call on Perdomo’s behalf.

Perdomo is facing up to life in prison for Brockman’s murder. Judge Jackson has instructed the jurors that if “they do not believe Mr. Perdomo committed the other murders beyond a reasonable doubt,” they are prohibited from using them in their consideration of his sentence for killing Brockman.