East Texas

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

LONGVIEW — Less than 24 hours after a homeless woman’s body was found on a bench outside a Longview mission, police say they have made an arrest in the case.

Kevin Brownlee, public information officer for the Longview Police Department, said officers have made an arrest and are charging an 18-year-old with the shooting death of 42-year-old Cynthia Weaver.

Brownlee said Longview SWAT officers took the man into custody this morning after obtaining a warrant for a home in the 300 block of Electra Street in Longview.

“Detectives obtained the arrest warrant after a thorough examination of the crime scene and interviews with several witnesses that had information regarding the investigation. Weaver and the suspect and the victim knew each other and it is believed the shooting stemmed from a disagreement between them,” he said Thursday morning.

Officers were dispatched to the Newgate United Methodist Church Mission in the 200 block of Mobberly Avenue and found Ms. Weaver dead on a bench outside of the mission.

“I am not aware of the investigators being able to contact any of her family, so we have not released the name at this time,” Brownlee said.

According to the mission’s Web site, Newgate began in 1990 and serves the spiritual, physical, social, emotional, educational and financial needs of the homeless population in Longview and the surrounding area.

Pastor and director of the mission, Kent McKeever said Wednesday that the homicide was a shock.

“She was a regular around here. In fact she was part of our family,” he said of the victim.

Brownlee said the suspect will be booked into the Gregg County Jail and charged with murder. His name is being withheld until he is arraigned.