JaMichael Phillips, 36, was found shot to death inside his home in the 100 block of County Road 2235 near Center, Texas, on the morning of Saturday, September 13, 2025. Deputies arrived around 9:30 a.m. after a family member had forced entry into a house that had been deadbolted. Investigators recovered a partially displaced bedroom window air conditioner as evidence; authorities say assailants could not get through the doors, yanked the unit aside and fired into the room, striking Phillips in the back of the head as he tried to flee.

Video from nearby homes and businesses and a large crowd outside the scene helped law enforcement track a suspect vehicle. Texas Rangers assisted the sheriff’s office, and investigators linked the case to gang-related activity in Angelina County and to a dice game at the victim’s home two nights earlier that may have preceded a robbery attempt. Arrests followed: on September 18 three suspects from Lufkin—Colby Eli Lister, 19; Deterion Alexander, 17; and Rico Rose, 20—were booked on murder charges, and by October 10 Angelina County authorities arrested Alijah Ja’von Nicholson, 19, on murder and burglary of a habitation counts, with additional local charges noted.

What can readers from Center or surrounding communities add about the dice game, the suspect vehicle, or anyone who might have seen activity near County Road 2235 on the nights around September 11–13?