Father pleads guilty in shooting death of son

A Morris County man has been sentenced in the shooting death of his teen son. Kenneth Webster, Jr. pled guilty to manslaughter on Nov. 15.

On the evening of Oct. 1, Naples police were called out to the scene of a shooting on Locust Street where 15 year-old DeAdrian Webster and his mother were both found with gunshot wounds. The mother sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the thumb, while her son was shot through the arm. Naples officer Stephanie Alonso was the first on scene, accompanied by Omaha officer Chris Hogg. Alonso began attempts to resuscitate the younger Webster, but attempts were futile and he succumbed to his injury on scene.

According to Morris County District Attorney Steve Cowan, when he and Morris County investigator Billy Mack Harrison arrived on scene, the stories of Webster, Jr., and his wife, who had been shot, did not add up. “They both stated that he (Webster, Jr.) and his wife had been arguing, but that he had gone inside before the shot was fired. Both of DeAdrian’s parents stated there was an unknown shooter from the woods,” said Cowan.

Through the course of the investigation, a .40 caliber pistol was found on scene, with glass that matched the broken glass from the Expedition Mrs. Webster had been driving. The pistol had been recently fired, and its trigger guard had been broken. Through the investigative effort of Harrison, Naples Police Chief Tommy Hunt, and Texas Ranger Greg Wilson, from Mount Pleasant, the District Attorney’s office was able to begin piecing together what had actually occurred. The District Attorney’s office had enough evidence to arrest Webster, Jr., just days after the incident occurred.

“Through our investigation, we found that Webster, Jr. and his wife argued a lot, and according to his 17-year old son, he had pulled a gun on her before,” said Cowan, adding, “The police had never been called. This is what happens when you have repeat domestic violence and bullying.”

Webster pled guilty to a charge of manslaughter, as there was no intent to kill his son. However, DeAdrian lost his life due to negligent actions on the part of his father, resulting in the manslaughter charge.

“Although there are no real winners in this case, I do feel like Mr. Webster, Jr. received a fair trial, and that justice was done,” said Cowan. Cowan applauded the efforts of four dedicated police officers for the fact that this case was completed in 46 days. “Officer Alonso did a great job, and put in a heroic effort to save the life of a young man she characterized as a big teddy bear. Chief Tommy Hunt found the weapon, and Billy Mack (Harrison), and Ranger Wilson never quit. They all did a phenomenal job,” said Cowan.

Judge Danny Woodson sentenced Webster, Jr. to “one year for every year of his son’s life,” resulting in a sentence of 15 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division.

“The natural consequence of domestic violence is that someone gets hurt,” said Cowan, adding “When someone gets hurt, someone has to be held accountable.”