Tragedy at Texarkana Aluminum: Paroled Murderer Shoots Wife, Kills Heroic Bystander Before Taking His Own Life

NASH, TEXAS – A horrific shooting erupted in the parking lot of the Texarkana Aluminum plant early Tuesday morning, leaving two dead and one critically injured. According to the latest reports from the Nash Police Department, the incident stemmed from a violent domestic dispute where a convicted murderer on parole targeted his wife and killed a brave co-worker who stepped in to save her.

A Deadly Morning in the Parking Lot

At approximately 6:37 a.m. on May 12, 2026, gunfire shattered the morning shift routine at the Texarkana Aluminum plant in Nash, Texas. Responding officers arrived at a grim scene with three individuals down in the parking lot.

The gunman was identified as Wendell Lane Champion Jr., 40, of Hope, Arkansas. Police confirmed that Champion died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. The other victims were identified as his wife, Candis Jolene Champion (37), and Eddie Ray Hill Jr. (48). Both Candis and Hill were employees of the plant.

The Heroism of Eddie Ray Hill Jr.

Authorities stated the shooting was a “domestic-related incident” between Wendell Champion and his wife. As Wendell confronted and threatened Candis in the parking lot, Eddie Ray Hill Jr. arrived for his shift and immediately sensed the danger.

Rather than standing by, Hill heroically intervened to protect his colleague. Tragically, the suspect opened fire, killing Hill instantly before turning the gun on his wife and inflicting serious injuries. Wendell then turned the weapon on hj::mself.

Nash Police Chief Kelly Dial addressed the media, stating: “When victim Eddie Ray Hill, Jr. arrived at work, he attempted to intervene in the domestic incident and was shot and killed by the suspect. He died trying to do the right thing.”

Profile of a Killer: A Violent Past on Parole

The most jarring detail of the investigation is the suspect’s extensive criminal history. Wendell Lane Champion Jr. was a convicted murderer who had recently been released back into society.

• 2007: He was indicted on capital murder charges following the fatal shooting of a security officer during a robbery at a Houston business.
• 2010: In Harris County, Texas, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of first-degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
• 2025: After serving only a portion of his sentence, he was released on parole last year.

The fact that a high-risk violent offender was out on parole and able to access a firearm has sparked immediate public outcry regarding the stringency of the Texas parole system.

Victim Status and Company Response

Candis Champion was transported to a nearby hospital, where she remains in stable but serious condition. Texarkana Aluminum has since established a crisis response team to provide counseling for employees, many of whom witnessed the traumatic event.

In an official statement, the company said: “The safety of our employees and the public at large is our primary concern. We would like to offer our sympathies to those involved and to their families.” The company also confirmed that Wendell Champion was never an employee of the facility.

The investigation remains ongoing. The community of Nash is left mourning the loss of Eddie Ray Hill Jr.—a true hero who gave his life in an act of selfless courage to save another.