2025-12-16
Randall County murder case moves forward as judge denies motion to suppress ‘coerced confession’
AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - One of two men charged in a 2023 homicide appeared in Randall County’s 47th District Court yesterday.
Kevin Anthony Fortuna, 20, is accused of taking part in the fatal shooting of Markell Damarion Toombs-Reed on January 26, 2023.
On that date, officers with Amarillo Police Department responded to the area of Southwest 41st Avenue and South Travis Street on reports of gunshots.
When they arrived, they found Toombs-Reed in the street suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kevin Fortuna, charged in connection to the murder of Markell Toombs-Reed (Source: Randall County Jail)(Randall County Jail)
Police arrested Fortuna in January 2024 and charged him with murder and tampering with physical evidence. They booked Fortuna into Randall County Jail where he has remained in lieu of bond since.
A plea could not be reached in an October hearing. At the hearing, Fortuna’s lawyer indicated intent to file a motion to suppress a coerced confession.
Fortuna’s counsel, Mike Warner, filed a brief in support of the motion to suppress on October 17.
At the hearing yesterday, District Dee Johnson denied the motion.
There will be another plea negotiation conference scheduled within the next two weeks and a trial date is re-set for May 11, 2026.
Surveillance footage from January 26, 2023(Amarillo Police Department)
Toombs-Reed’s death was considered unsolved until police made a plea for more information in October 2023.
Video evidence released to the public showed several suspects involved in the shooting. Police also specifically asked for any information on a silver or gray Chevrolet Impala that can be seen in the footage.
On Wednesday, April 3, the Randall County Jury issued an indictment for murder against Juade Rique Gonzales. (Source: Randall County Jail)(Randall County Jail)
Police arrested Fortuna and his co-defendant, Juade Rique Gonzales, in the months following the department’s appeal to the public.
Their arrest warrants came after a Randall County grand jury voted to indict them.
There are no scheduled pleas for Gonzales at the time of this writing.
Markell Toombs-Reed(Amarillo Police Department)
The obituary for Markell Davarion Dawane Toombs-Reed describes his personality as “peaceful and caring”.
He was an Amarillo High School graduate with a young daughter and large family.
Additionally, he was a tech whiz and active churchgoer who served on the drumline and youth department.
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