Burglary suspect tracked by gunshot wounds

DUNCAN — A Walters man is recuperating from gunshot wounds while he awaits a court appearance for allegations of a burglary gone wrong for him.

Investigators also believe he fled police in October while riding a stolen motorcycle and eluding police.

The Stephens County District Court issued a felony arrest warrants Wednesday for Cason Wade Smith, 36, for a count of first-degree burglary in one case and knowingly concealing and withholding stolen property, eluding/attempting to elude police and driving with a suspended license, records indicate. Due to prior convictions, he faces between 20 years to life in prison if convicted of the burglary charge.

Stephens County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Picazo stated he was called around 3 a.m. Nov. 18 to a home in the county for a shots fired call. The homeowner said he’d been asleep in his bedroom when he heard glass breaking, the warrant affidavit states. After having a trailer and 4-wheeler stolen recently, he said he’d been sleeping with his gun close by.

The homeowner went to the back door of his home and when he saw someone’s arm reaching through the glass and into the house while trying to unlock the door, he shot four times at the door, the affidavit states. Then he called 911. Investigators saw blood on the screen of the door.

Investigators went to Smith’s home south of the scene but he and his girlfriend weren’t there. It was learned Smith was at Comanche County Memorial Hospital being treated for gunshot wounds, according to the affidavit. A woman told Picazo she was asked to drive Smith and his girlfriend to the hospital but they refused to tell her what happened.

Smith’s girlfriend told investigators that Smith left their trailer and when he returned, he lifted his shirt and asked her to see if he’d been shot. He had: he was being treated for two gunshot wounds, the affidavit states.

Deputy Keelan Barton was also investigating Smith for an Oct. 29 incident where he and his girlfriend were driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle that had been reported stolen out of Conroe, Texas, the affidavit states. Another deputy had tried to pull the bike over but Smith speeded off, reaching speeds near 100 miles per hour before eluding the deputy.

The motorcycle was later recovered in an empty field site but Smith and his girlfriend weren’t located. Video of Smith and his girlfriend from when they put gas into the bike at a convenience store led to their identification, according to the affidavit.

Smith has three prior felony convictions: October 2009, Hutchinson County, Texas, for possession of controlled substances; February 2016, Ector County, Texas, theft of property; and November 2021, Montgomery County, Texas, possession of controlled dangerous substances, records indicate.