Sunnyvale police said the man recently arrested and charged in a 2023 homicide was retaliating against the victim for an incident that occurred several days earlier.
Quantavius Gomillia, 27, was arrested in Mississippi on June 13, over a year after the shooting death of Tyesha Merritt, 27. He was extradited to Texas and booked into the Dallas County jail on Friday. Gomillia faces a murder charge, and police said other charges are pending relating to other people injured in the shooting.
About 6 p.m. June 4, 2023, a shooting was reported at a townhome in the 200 block of Planters Road. Merritt was killed in the shooting, and her adult brother and his three children were injured. A video released by the Sunnyvale Police Department showed a vehicle pull up to the townhome before a man jumped out, opened fire and got back into the car as it drove away.
Police said last week they are still seeking the driver. Sunnyvale police Chief Bill Vegas said investigators believe Gomillia was the shooter.
Vegas said Merritt was targeted in retaliation for an incident that took place May 29, 2023. He said the two suspects were searching for Merritt, who was an acquaintance of Gomillia. Vegas didn’t state the nature of incident.
Vegas said Gomillia had been in contact with the department about an unrelated incident, and during its communication with him, realized he may have been involved in Merritt’s death. Gomillia suddenly ceased all communication with the department, Vegas said, and police obtained a warrant for his arrest June 10.
Vegas said police, with the help of the FBI, tracked a car rented by Gomillia to Mississippi, and he was arrested June 13. Vegas said investigators do not know why Gomillia fled to Mississippi, but said he appeared to be trying to go to his father’s home.
“Something triggered him,” Vegas said. “Something spooked him enough that he left D-FW to go to Mississippi to be with his dad.”
Vegas thanked Mesquite and Carrollton police and the FBI for their help in the investigation. He said a CrimeStoppers tip line with a $25,000 reward is still active for anyone with information on the driver. Call CrimeStoppers at 877-373-8477.
Gomillia remained in the Dallas County jail Tuesday with bail set at $500,000.
