The new year started with violence in Hunt County.
A Rains County man awaiting trial on a charge of intoxication assault was shot and critically wounded early Thursday morning, following a chain of events south of Greenville.
Syrus Elmo Hurst of Point was reported to be in the intensive care unit at Parkland Hospital Thursday, as a result of being shot during an attempted break-in at a residence.
“Our last word is that he is in very critical condition,” according to Hunt County Sheriff Randy Meeks.
Meeks said the incident began at around 2:45 a.m., with a call of a disturbance at a residence on County 3318. Occupants of the home said Hurst had shown up and appeared as if he had been in an altercation.
Hurst allegedly claimed to have shot and killed someone at his residence, then began firing an AR-15 rifle. The caller said the occupants of the home were able to wrestle the weapon away from Hurst, with no one being hurt.
Meeks said investigators had found no evidence as of Thursday morning of Meeks having shot anyone.
Hurst was then reported to have gotten into his vehicle, which was parked near the intersection of County Road 3318 and Old Mill Road, and paused momentarily before driving from the scene.
Hurst was later reported to have begun doing donuts with his vehicle at a fireworks stand near Lone Oak. The owner of the stand who lived in an adjacent house told Hurst to leave. Hurst was said to have left the scene and then returned a short time later, attempting to break into the residence.
The homeowner fired a blast from a shotgun through the door, and Hurst then drove away from the location.
A few minutes later, the sheriff’s office received a report from the OnStar system in the vehicle Hurst was driving, indicating it had been involved in a crash in Lone Oak. Deputies arrived to find the wounded Hurst inside the vehicle.
Hurst was transported to the Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville and then later taken by air ambulance to Parkland.
Hurst has trial scheduled in the 196th District Court later this month on a charge of intoxication assault. He has pleaded not guilty to allegations he was driving while intoxicated when he caused an injury accident four years ago. The indictment issued in June 2013 by the Hunt County grand jury alleged Hurst was intoxicated while driving during the Oct. 24, 2010 accident, which injured a female victim.
Hurst has a previous conviction listed on the indictment, for arson, in Rains County in August 2003.
Intoxication assault is a third degree felony, punishable upon conviction by a maximum sentence of from two to 10 years in prison and an optional fine of up to $10,000.