Texan man, 26, faces 40-year sentence after he admitted to killing beloved restaurant owner in road rage
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
TEXAS, UNITED STATES: Messiah Pickens-McCoy, a 26-year-old Texan, confessed to the fatal shooting captured on a dashcam video, leading to a 40-year prison sentence.
To provide context, Pickens-McCoy murdered Gregory Sharretts, a 67-year-old beloved restaurant owner and grandfather as per Law&Crime.
The incident unfolded on Highway 3 in Texas City on January 26, 2022. Additional details about the confrontation between the defendant and the victim were disclosed in-depth during the recent sentencing hearing.
What happened between Gregory Sharretts and Messiah Pickens-McCoy?
Gregory Sharretts and Pickens-McCoy both attempted to turn into the same lane simultaneously, leading to frustration on the part of the defendant.
In response, Pickens-McCoy discharged multiple shots at Sharretts' truck, with one bullet fatally hitting Sharretts in the back of the head.
According to the District Attorney's office, “The video clearly shows a hand holding a handgun extending out the driver’s window of Pickens-McCoy’s car and several shots being fired.”
Upon hearing the gunshots, an officer identified a speeding vehicle traveling at over 100 mph, pursued it, and eventually apprehended the driver, Pickens-McCoy.
During the arrest, police discovered a 9 mm Glock pistol and a spent shell casing near the windshield wipers.
What did the victim's wife Dee Bryd-Sharretts say?
Dee Byrd-Sharretts, the widow of the victim, conveyed the senselessness of the tragedy, expressing, "He drowned in his blood after the bullet ricocheted through his head."
She described the situation as a nightmarish and surreal experience, underscoring that their family's lives will never be the same.
She lamented, "Our youngest grandkids will never know what a generous, creative, and energetic man he was."
Byrd-Sharretts further emphasized that Messiah Pickens-McCoy robbed Greg of valuable time, not just from the family but also from the community, depriving them of a creative, generous, and loving individual.
She conveyed the irreparable loss, stating, "There's just an empty, empty space that can never be filled."
Sharretts' obituary highlighted Greg's culinary excellence and perfectionist approach in the kitchen, where he dedicated time to testing and refining his recipes.
The obituary also noted his immense pride in his restaurants, finding joy in witnessing friends and patrons enjoying the food and atmosphere he had meticulously created.
