On the morning of July 30, 2023, at about 10 a.m., officers with the Beaumont Police Department found 17-year-old Zavion Massey of Houston dead in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that had struck a fence at the West End Crossing Apartments, 6550 Phelan Blvd. Preliminary investigation determined Massey had multiple gunshot wounds.

Police say Massey was allegedly in the act of stealing the vehicle when the owner confronted him; the owner reportedly shot Massey as he attempted to flee. The vehicle’s owner stayed at the scene and was detained for questioning, then released after initial interviews while detectives prepared to present findings to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. No charges had been filed and no arrests were announced in connection with the shooting as of the latest update.

The circumstances and the timing of the confrontation were under review to assess whether Texas statutes on deadly force to prevent theft applied. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact investigators.