Commerce Shootings May Be Related

Statement from Commerce Police Chief Jason Rector

– The Commerce Police Department was dispatched to 401 Park Street at approximately 6:34 pm on 07/01/2018 for a man that had been shot.  Upon arrival, officers observed 41 year old Aaron Williams that had been shot once in his left temple and sustained an injury to his right hand while at the residence of 403 Park Street. Williams’s wife, Carla, was also with him but did not sustain any injuries.  Officers contained the scene and the Criminal Investigation Department was contacted and arrived on scene. Williams was transported to Hunt Regional Community Hospital in Commerce where he was treated and released later that evening. 

At approximately 7:32 pm Commerce Police Department was dispatched to another call for shots fired at Village Creek Apartments located at 2231 Live Oak Street. Upon officers arrival they observed two vehicles that had been involved in an accident near apartment #2427 and two subject were lying on the ground near the sidewalk close to apartment #2419.  TAMUC UPD Officers arrived on scene to assist. Commerce Police Officers observed blood on the front porch of apartment #2419 and the apartment door open and made entry where they discovered numerous shell casings, weapons and large quantities of blood at the scene but found no one inside.  Officers secured the scene and was advised by witnesses that multiple subjects ran towards Taco Bell through the woods.  While enroute to Taco Bell, officers located another vehicle that had wrecked into the trees and the passenger door opened but no one in the area. It was later determined that a male and female had also been shot at Village Creek Apartments and were transported to Hunt Regional Community Hospital from Taco Bell by an unknown subject.  The Commerce Police Officers made contact with both subjects at the hospital.  Both were treated for non-life threating injuries and then transported to the Commerce Police Department questioning. 

The two male subjects found lying on the ground at Village Creek Apartments were later identified as 21 year old Malachi Wisdom and 20 year old Brian Galicia. Both Wisdom and Galicia died as a result of their injuries.

At this time it is believed that both incidents are related. The Commerce Police Department will continue to work with the Texas Rangers throughout this investigation.  If you have further information regarding the incidents please contact the Commerce Police Department at 903-886-1139.