WACO, Texas (KWTX) – One of two suspects in the 2020 gang-related shooting that killed a Waco teenager was sentenced to seven years in prison Thursday.

Elijah Marquise Thompson, 26, of Waco, pleaded guilty to murder in Waco’s 54th State District Court in the June 2020 shooting death of Tyrese Lewayne Carroll.

Dallas County prosecutor Jason Hermus recommended Judge Susan Kelly sentence Thompson to seven years in prison.

Carroll, 19, was on the phone with his brother when he was shot and killed around 2 a.m. near the Whataburger restaurant at North Valley Mills and Lake Air roads, according to the arrest affidavit.

Malachi Jawan Wright, 26, was also charged with murder in the incident. His case has a trial date set for March 31, 2025, and is also being handled by the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office because McLennan County District Attorney Josh Tetens said his office has recused itself from handling the cases.

Tetens said he consulted with family members of the defendants while in private practice and recused himself “out of an abundance of caution” even though he was not assigned to represent either defendant.

Hermus declined to comment after the plea hearing, as did Dallas County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Claire Crouch.

Before he can seek parole, Thompson must have served at least half of his seven-year sentence, which won’t be long because he will be given credit for the 1,540 days he spent in the McLennan County Jail awaiting his case. It will be resolved.

After accepting the plea bargain, Kelly asked Thompson if he was “done with all this gang stuff.” “Yes ma’am,” Thompson said.

“Did you lose some friends?” the judge asked. Thompson said he did.

“Are you going to come back and live in our society and live in peace?” Kelly asked. Thompson said yes.

“So, when you return, will you be a good role model for other young people?” the judge asked. Thompson said yes.

The judge said, “I will watch.”

Waco police responding to the shooting learned that Carroll was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Investigators later determined it stemmed from “an ongoing feud between two local gangs” in which both were “involved in multiple shootings,” according to the arrest affidavit.

A witness told police Carroll was shot after walking toward the silver Ford Fusion driven by Wright. The affidavit alleges the witness told investigators that Wright shot Carroll through the driver’s side window.

Then, according to the witness statement, “the right rear passenger door opened and Elijah Thompson got out and began shooting at Carroll until he fell to the ground.”

Carroll’s mother made a victim impact statement following Thompson’s conviction, asking her son why he had to continue shooting even though he had already been shot.

“I don’t think anyone would win in this situation,” he said. “Tyrese is gone, and you’ll carry that with you for the rest of your life. Tyrese has a son. You have a son. “We don’t need them to grow up with what their fathers went through.”

He said he held no hatred for Thompson in his heart and was not seeking revenge.

“I hope you have time to sit down and think and clear your mind. Come to your senses. “I just want to know why you keep shooting.”

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