Man found guilty of 2021 capital murder of East Texas pastor

TYLER, Texas ( KETK ) – A jury found 25-year-old Mytrez Woolen guilty of killing Starrville Methodist Church pastor Mark McWilliams on Thursday.

The final day of the trial Began with the judge explaining the charges to the jury. Then, came closing arguments.

The state standing before the jury stated that Woolen intentionally killed the pastor in what they called a “crime spree,” Saying Woolen fought Mcwilliams for his gun, shot him, and then assaulted another church member and the pastor’s wife before running away with the church’s money bag.

“He attacked a man and took his gun, away from him and then used the gun to kill the man so that the guy couldn’t get his gun back, and that came out of his own mouth,” Heath Chamness, Smith County assistant district attorney, said. “That second shot wasn’t necessary, even if you find the first shot, was in self-defense, he’s still guilty.”

The defense claimed Woolen acted in self-defense, asking for the charge to be reduced to murder.

“What would you do in Mr. Woolen’s situation, a woman with a hammer, a guy with a gun, another guy with a gun on him, and thinking he’s going to shoot him,” Jeff Haas, Woolen’s defense attorney said.

The judge ruled against that argument but allowed the jury to consider self-defense.

Woolen was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Woolen was accused of hiding out in the church overnight in January 2021 after running from police, then shooting the pastor , grazing his wife with a bullet and shooting another parishioner several times. He pleaded not guilty to capital murder in April 2021.

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