Man shot, killed in Everman while his family spoke with 911

Man shot, killed in Everman while family spoke with 911

A man was shot and killed early Wednesday morning while his family was giving information to 911 dispatchers, according to the Everman Police Department.

EVERMAN, Texas - A man was shot and killed early Wednesday morning while his family was giving information to 911 dispatchers, according to the Everman Police Department.

What we know:

Everman police responded to a disturbance call in the 500 block of Georgetown Drive just after 6 a.m. Wednesday. While dispatchers were collecting information from the caller, they heard multiple gunshots over the phone.

Officers arrived within minutes and discovered a man, later identified as Seth "Tony" Tatum, lying in the roadway with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Police arrested 22-year-old Elijah Mitchell several blocks away from the scene. Investigators also recovered a handgun they believe Mitchell discarded while fleeing.

Authorities said they believe the shooting was an isolated incident stemming from a domestic relationship and emphasized there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Elijah Mitchell

Victim was protecting sister

What they're saying:

Family members told FOX 4 that Seth was trying to protect his sister from Mitchell, who was identified as the sister's ex-boyfriend. The sister was the one who was on the phone with 911 when the shooting happened.

"He's in the street, and he's yelling things at her, so she walks back towards the house, calls the cops," said James Tatum III, Seth's younger brother.  

James said the incident soon escalated.

"He's just like, 'Hey, hey bro, just leave, we're trying to go to work, it's early in the morning, it's 6 in the morning,' and he's just still yelling at her," James said.

"That's when you just see the gunfire, it's so loud, I can see the flashes of light," James continued. 

Seth Tatum

James said losing his brother has been devastating to the family. He recalled staying by Seth's side until first responders arrived.

"I was holding his head as I was telling him to breathe, I kissed his forehead as I told him, ‘I love you Seth, I love you.’" 

According to James, Mitchell was no stranger to their family.

"We treated him like family, we thought he was family. That's what hurts the most. It's worse than betrayal, it's really like an abomination." 

Seth's family said he was expecting a baby girl who is due in just a few weeks. James said it's a gut-wrenching feeling to know his brother will never meet his own daughter.