It was supposed to be just another night out in southeast Texas, the kind where folks unwind after a long week with some music and good company. But for Henry Carey Jr. and Khalil Ahmadrian Gooch, what started as a casual evening at a nightclub ended in unimaginable tragedy. In the early hours of a Sunday morning, a simple bump in the parking lot spiraled into a deadly confrontation, leaving two men dead and two others behind bars on murder charges. Hardin County Sheriff Mark Davis called it a heartbreaking escalation from something as minor as a car scrape, a reminder of how quickly tempers can flare.
The scene unfolded outside a nightclub on Fresenius Road, just beyond the edges of Silsbee. All four men involved—victims and suspects alike—had been there enjoying the night, dancing and chatting like anyone else. As the crowd thinned and people headed to their vehicles around dawn, that’s when it happened. According to the sheriff’s initial report, a minor motor vehicle incident kicked things off—a fender bender, really, the sort that might normally end with exchanged insurance info and a handshake. But not this time. Words were exchanged, voices rose, and before anyone could intervene, gunfire erupted in the dim parking lot.
Henry Carey Jr., 36, and Khalil Ahmadrian Gooch, 29, both from the tight-knit community of Kountze, were the ones who didn’t make it out alive. Henry, a local guy known for his steady presence around town, leaves behind a family that’s surely reeling from the shock. Khalil, a bit younger but no less woven into the fabric of Kountze life, was full of energy and promise, the kind of person who lit up rooms. Their deaths hit hard in a place where everyone seems to know everyone, turning a routine night into a community wound that’s just beginning to show.
On the other side of this awful chain of events are the suspects: Deontray Deshunn Carey Jr., 22, from Beaumont, and Kenny Ray Johnson, 21, from Baytown. Notice the shared last name with one of the victims—Henry Carey Jr.—but authorities haven’t confirmed any relation yet, and it’s the kind of coincidence that adds another layer of sorrow to the story. After the shots rang out, Deontray and Kenny bolted from the scene, vanishing into the pre-dawn quiet. They didn’t get far, though; Lumberton police picked them up later that same day on unrelated charges, which gave investigators the opening they needed.
What followed was a meticulous push by law enforcement to piece it all together. Detectives combed the parking lot for shell casings and witness statements, building a case that led straight back to the two young men. By the end of the day, Hardin County Justice of the Peace Rod Ousley had signed off on warrants, and Deontray and Kenny were booked into the Hardin County Jail, each facing two counts of murder. It’s a heavy charge, one that carries the weight of two lost lives, and the sheriff’s office made it clear they weren’t letting this slide without answers.
To get to the bottom of exactly what went down, Justice of the Peace Ousley ordered autopsies for both Henry and Khalil. Those reports will hopefully shed light on the final moments, confirming the cause of death and maybe even the sequence of events. Meanwhile, the Silsbee and Lumberton police departments are teaming up on the probe, sharing resources and tips to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. In a rural county like Hardin, these kinds of collaborations are crucial, especially when the stakes feel so personal.
As the investigation rolls on, the ripple effects are already being felt back in Kountze and beyond. Families are grieving, friends are sharing memories online, and the whole area is buzzing with that uneasy mix of shock and caution. Sheriff Davis put it plainly: a minor incident shouldn’t end like this, and he’s urging anyone with details to come forward. It’s a call that’s echoing through the community, a plea for closure in the face of something that defies easy understanding. For now, the focus stays on justice, but the loss of Henry and Khalil lingers like a shadow over what should have been a forgettable night.
