TEMPLE, Texas (KWTX) – Two Troy, Texas, men charged in the death of Ember Henry allegedly planned to “hit a lick” during an armed robbery targeting THC vapes, criminal complaints obtained by KWTX state.
Justin R. Simmons, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, confirmed the arrests of Colton Carter, 20, and Donivan Bynum, 18, on Thursday.
Temple police officers found Henry’s body on a porch at a residence in the 1300 block of Paseo Del Oro on May 6, according to the criminal complaints. Henry suffered multiple gunshot wounds and 9mm casings were located at the scene. In Henry’s pockets, investigators found two marijuana vape pen containers.
According to criminal complaints, detectives investigating Henry’s death learned that Temple Police Department officers responded to a “shots fired” call in the area shortly after 9 p.m. on May 5.
The police officers encountered two men running away from the scene about two houses away from where Henry’s body was found the next day.
The men – identified in the complaints as Carter and Bynum – told the officers they were running away because they heard gunshots and “were not sure if they were being shot at.”
The Temple officers noticed both men appeared to be nervous. The men were “identified and released” by the Temple police officers the night of May 5, criminal complaints state.
On May 6, Carter was pulled over for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, a passenger in Carter’s vehicle told the police officers that Carter was talking about how they had ”hit a lick” on a “white male the night before,” the criminal complaints state.
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Carter was taken into custody and interviewed regarding Henry’s death. Detectives also executed search warrants on his vehicle and mobile phone.
“Colton Carter stated that he was aware of a planned robbery targeting Ember Henry for THC vape products,” the criminal complaints state. Carter further told detectives he wanted “nothing to do with the lick.”
Criminal complaints, however, allege that Carter’s phone contained implicating messages and phone calls that led detectives to believe he had set up the robbery that led to Henry’s death. The complaint further alleges Bynum was with Carter as the look out.
Messages found on Carter’s phone allegedly state:
“We are hitting a Plug today.”
“So be ready and bring a Ski.”
“He’s a White boy and I think it’ll be easy.”
“Either way tho we jumping him and taking his dispos.”
Shortly before 10 p.m. on May 5, Carter sent another text message stating, “He’s 10 out.” Police said this text message was sent approximately 11 minutes prior to incoming 911 calls about “shots fired” in the area where Henry’s body was found.
During his interview, Bynum told detectives he and Carter drove from Troy, Texas, to Temple and that he knew Carter was planning to “hit a lick” that night.
Bynum further told detectives he and Carter drove to an abandoned home in the 1300 block of Paseo Del Oro in Temple and he acted as the lookout for Carter in the property’s backyard during the deadly robbery.
The criminal complaints state Bynum witnessed Carter assaulting Henry before hearing gunshots. He ran to the front yard to meet up with Carter and both men then fled the scene of the crime, the court documents state.
Carter and Bynum were arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. Murder charges have not yet been filed in the case.
If convicted on the current charges, they each face up to 20 years in prison. The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Temple Police Department, Milam County Sheriff’s Office, and Belton Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Blanton is prosecuting the case.
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