Trial dates loom for the two defendants in last year’s Fourth of July weekend double homicide of two teens in New Boston.
Malaki Beckham, 20, and Rondarius Evans, 21, were indicted by grand juries on charges in the shooting deaths of Nicholas Webster and Princeton Washington. Both victims were 19.
The trial date for Beckham is October 28, and Evans will face a jury in March.
In September, Beckham pleaded not guilty to two counts of capital murder, aggravated robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Based on the felony charge, Beckham could face the possibility of the death sentence or life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.
Evans was charged with two counts of first degree felony murder. If convicted, he could face five to 99 years or life in a state prison. He entered a plea of not guilty in May.
The pair are currently held at the Bi-State Justice Center Jail. Beckham’s bail was set at $1.05 million. Evans’ bail is $1 million.
The crime occurred outside the Dogwood Plaza apartments in the 300 block of North Lindsey Street on July 6, 2024.
Washington was pronounced dead at the scene. Webster died six days later in a Texarkana hospital.
According to a probable cause affidavit, witnesses said Beckham and Evans were allegedly attempting to rob the two victims and Beckham allegedly fired the fatal shots.
A witness said the pair then allegedly ran into a nearby apartment but fled from the apartment shortly after. The witness said Beckham allegedly fled the scene in a car that was later identified to belong to a female residing with Washington in Linden, the affidavit said.
Evans was found in a nearby apartment and taken in for questioning but released for lack of evidence. A warrant was later issued for his arrest. He remained on the run for several months before he was captured in McKinney, Texas, in April.
The car was found outside a home in the 100 block of Peggy Street which had been Beckham’s last known address. Agents with the Texas Department of Public Safety Special Response Team were deployed to make entry into the home. Beckham was not found.
He was arrested the following week in Clarksville, Texas.
Days before the shooting, Beckham is alleged to have stolen a gun from an acquaintance in New Boston, a second affidavit said. Beckham allegedly entered the vehicle of Justin Mc-Grew. McGrew told police Beckham allegedly pointed a pistol at McGrew and demanded a firearm from Mc-Grew, the affidavit said.
McGrew said he gave Beckham a .40 caliber Glock handgun and left after Beckham exited the vehicle.
Detectives with the Texarkana, Texas, Criminal Investigation Unit determined the wounds found in both Washington and Webster were from a .40 caliber bullet.
Authorities were unable to determine if the gun Beckham allegedly stole from McGrew was used in the homicides.
“We can’t confirm that because no firearm was recovered,” said Sgt. Rick Boone with the New Boston Police Department.
At the time of both crimes, Beckham was on probation for conviction of a 2022 armed robbery of a New Boston convenience store and for using a stolen credit card.
Malaki Beckham
Rondarius Evans
