On the morning of Wednesday, April 22, 2026, a 26-year-old man named Seth “Tony” Tatum was fatally shot in Everman, Texas, while his sister was on a call with 911 dispatchers. The incident began around 6:05 a.m. in the 500 block of Georgetown Drive when a domestic disturbance involving Tatum’s sister and her ex-boyfriend, Elijah Mitchell, spilled into the street. As the sister was providing information to the operator, dispatchers heard the sound of multiple gunshots over the phone line.
According to family members, Tatum was acting as a protector, attempting to shield his sister after Mitchell arrived at the home and began shouting at her. His brother, James Tatum III, noted that Seth had simply asked Mitchell to leave so the family could go to work. Officers arrived on the scene within minutes to find Tatum lying in the roadway with several gunshot wounds; despite being rushed to Texas Health Huguley Hospital, he was later pronounced dead.
The Everman Police Department quickly located and arrested 22-year-old Elijah Mitchell several blocks away from the shooting. Investigators believe Mitchell discarded a handgun while attempting to flee, which has since been recovered. Mitchell is currently being held on suspicion of murder, and authorities have described the shooting as an isolated incident stemming from a former domestic relationship.
The tragedy has left the Tatum family devastated, particularly as Seth was expecting a baby girl due in just a few weeks. His brother James shared that he stayed by Seth’s side until help arrived, holding him and telling him he loved him in his final moments. Family members expressed a deep sense of betrayal, noting that they had previously treated Mitchell like a member of their own family.