Ronald Mouton

Reverend Dr. Ronald Keith Mouton Sr., a 58-year-old Black man, was a beloved pastor and a staple in the Houston, Texas, community. As the leader of East Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, he was remembered by friends and colleagues as a loving father and husband, a great preacher, and a true man of God with a generous spirit. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who knew him for many years, described him as a man of love and service who was always eager to do more for others.

On the afternoon of June 24, 2022, Reverend Mouton was driving on the feeder road of the Gulf Freeway near his church. Around 4:19 p.m., he was involved in what police described as a possible road-rage incident with the driver of a black sedan. During the encounter, the other driver shot Reverend Mouton. After being shot, Mouton’s vehicle crashed, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Houston Police Department responded to the shooting in the 6300 block of the Gulf Freeway’s southbound feeder road. The news of the pastor’s violent death sent shockwaves through the community. Bishop James Dixon said the family was in "shock and utter disbelief," a sentiment shared by his congregation and fellow faith leaders. Investigators used surveillance video from a nearby business that captured the moments leading up to the crash, and Crime Stoppers offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information.

Police identified the suspected shooter as Deshawn Longmire. He was arrested and charged with murder for the death of Reverend Mouton and was subsequently held on a $500,000 bond. Following his arrest, Longmire was brought to trial, where a jury found him guilty of murder.

The conviction brought a legal conclusion to the case that devastated a family and a community. Friends remembered Reverend Mouton for his profound impact on their lives. “He allowed me to do things that he didn’t do for no other,” said Pastor Lionel Flanagan. “I’m going to miss my friend but I know he is in heaven.”