Man accused of murdering mother remains silent during first appearance before a judge • Police: Several witnesses say they saw Smith shoot his mother Keith Ray Smith Jr., the 18-year-old charged with the shooting death of his mother, went before a judge Thursday (11/13/2025) morning to hear the formal murder charges against him. Smith, who was arrested in Dickinson on Wednesday (11/12/2025), did not respond to Judge Stephen Baker during a magistrate hearing held Thursday morning at the Galveston County Jail. Smith is accused of shooting and killing his mother, Seakara Carter, 36, at her residence in La Marque at around 6 PM on Tuesday (11/11/2025). During a press conference on Thursday, La Marque Police Department Public Information Officer Corporal Nicole Galindo said family members who witnessed the fatal shooting identified Smith as the shooter. One of his sisters made a frantic 911 call to police just before 6 PM and reported that her brother arrived at the house in the 1100 block of Kirsten Street, threatening to shoot his mother. A short time later, Smith fired a single gunshot, striking Carter as she stood in the doorway of the house. Smith likely then took off as first responders focused their attention on Carter, who died after she was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. While police suspected Smith had fled the scene, some witnesses indicated he had gone inside the house. That’s when police established a perimeter and approached the situation as a barricaded suspect. The La Marque Police Department’s Crisis Negotiators arrived but never made contact with Smith, either by phone or by attempting to communicate with him via a bullhorn. When the Special Response Team arrived, police awaited a warrant before entering the house and finding that Smith was not on scene. After issuing his photo to the public on Wednesday, a caller in Dickinson reported to police that they saw Smith walking along West Hughes Road. The roadway is located behind a shopping center that used to be home to a Kroger store. Dickinson police arrested Smith without incident. Galindo said Smith has not responded to questions from detectives about the shooting. His silence continued in the magistrate court on Thursday, where he refused to answer the judge’s questions about seeking a court-appointed attorney, serving in the military, or if he is a U.S. Citizen. Court records show that Smith doesn’t have an adult criminal history in Galveston County. Asked if he had a juvenile record, Galindo said she was unable to provide that information. Some friends close to Smith’s family indicated that he has mental and behavioral issues. Galindo said that they were not far enough along in the investigation to determine if that is accurate. Police also did not say if a gun was recovered or if they had been able to determine a motive in the shooting. Smith is charged with murder and is held in the county jail on $1 million bail.

Posted by i45NOW TJ Aulds at 2025-11-13 18:55:49 UTC