Taylor Man Charged in Shooting of Brother and Sister

Published on August 21, 2025

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Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Walter Ray Swinea, 68, of Taylor, in connection the assault of his 66-year-old girlfriend, the non-fatal shooting of his 67-year-old sister, and the fatal shooting of his brother, Roy Swinea Jr., 60, all of Taylor.

On August 18, 2025, at approximately 4:38 p.m., Taylor police officers were dispatched to a residence in the 9500 block of Cass Avenue for a reported assault. While enroute, officers were informed that two males had arrived at the residence and two individuals had been injured in a shooting. 

Upon their arrival, officers located the defendant’s brother and sister lying in the grass in front of the residence, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds . Medics arrived on the scene and transported both victims to a local hospital for treatment. Mr. Roy Swinea succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased later the same day.

It is alleged that the defendant physically assaulted his 66-year-old girlfriend. It is further alleged that a verbal altercation between the defendant and his sister and brother escalated, and Defendant Swinea produced and fired a handgun multiple times, fatally wounding his brother and non-fatally wounding his sister.

Walter Ray Swinea has been charged with Second-Degree Murder, Assault with Intent to Murder, Domestic Violence, Assault and Battery, and two counts of Felony Firearm.*

He was arraigned and remanded to jail this afternoon in 23rd District Couty before Judge Victoria Shackelford. The Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for September 3, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., and the Preliminary Examination is scheduled for September 8, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., before Judge Victoria Shackelford.

Please request a photograph of the defendant from the Taylor Police Department.

 

*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

 

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Prosecutor