Affidavits: Man killed over pot sale dispute

Court documents obtained by ABC-7 state the killing of a man in Northeast El Paso was the result of a dispute over the sale of pot.

Police say 25-year-old Kareem Hewitt was shot and killed at an apartment complex located at 9960 McCombs in Northeast El Paso shortly before 10pm on March 22, 2017.

Northeast patrol officers responded to a shots fired call and found the victim inside his apartment suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Hewitt was transported to University Medical Center where he died, police said.

On Friday, March 28, 2017, police, SWAT, and the U.S. Marshall’s Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested 28-year-old James McDonald and 23-year-old Lettommy Ballard on Murder Charges.

Police officials say an investigation revealed that McDonald and Ballard worked together to killed Hewitt.

Two complaint affidavits state detectives interviewed a woman who witnessed the disputed pot sale. The woman told police she and the co-defendants drove to Hewitt’s apartment to purchase a gram of marijuana.

Documents, citing the witness, state one of the co-defendant’s felt the amount of pot he received was not equal to a gram and demanded more pot from Hewitt.

The documents do not clearly state if the co-defendant in question is McDonald or Ballard.

Hewitt allegedly gave the co-defendant more marijuana, but the co-defendant asked for his money back.

After a brief argument, Hewitt asked a roommate to return the money to the co-defendant because Hewitt feared he “might do something stupid” if he were to meet the co-defendant again. Hewitt’s roommate gave the co-defendant back his money, court documents state.

The female witness and the co-defendant drove away. When the woman dropped the co-defendant off at his home on the 4700 block of Sierra Madre, the co-defendant allegedly said, “I got something for this ass. I am tired of being played like a (expletive).” The document does not state if the co-defendant in question is McDonald or Ballard.

Later that night, the witness received a phone call from the co-defendant, who asked her to step outside her home. When the woman went outside, she spotted the co-defendant in an SUV. The co-defendant allegedly said, “I just shot his ass.”

When the witness asked him why, the co-defendant allegedly replied, “I am tired of (racial slur) playing me like a (expletive.)” The documents do not clarify if it was McDonald or Ballard who made the comments.

The co-defendant grabbed the witness’ cell phone and allegedly deleted Facebook Messenger messages he sent her earlier that day.

Court documents state McDonald and Ballard allegedly asked the witness to transport the firearm for them because they were not supposed to be near firearms. The documents state the witness drove the firearm from Diana to a home on Leo Street where one of the suspects lives.

Both men were booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on bonds $1-million.