A Beaumont man is now facing murder charges after a shooting that he initially claimed was a mutual struggle over a firearm. Brandon Chretien, 44, was originally charged with aggravated assault with a weapon causing brain injury after his girlfriend, 25-year-old Tammy Dawson, was shot in the head earlier this month. Following her death, a Texas grand jury upgraded the charge to murder.
The incident took place in the early morning hours of June 6 at Chretien’s home on Heartfield Lane. Beaumont police officers responded to a 911 call around 2:40 a.m. reporting that someone had been shot. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found Dawson inside a closet suffering from a severe gunshot wound to her head.
Emergency responders rushed Dawson to St. Elizabeth Hospital. Medical professionals reported that she suffered a traumatic brain injury and was initially listed in critical condition before slipping into a vegetative state. She died from her injuries the following day.
In the wake of her death, those close to Dawson shared their grief. “She was the embodiment of love,” a friend told local news stations KBMT and KJAC. “That girl had so much to give.”
According to the probable cause affidavit, Chretien was the one who placed the 911 call on the night of the shooting. He told the dispatcher that he and Dawson were involved in a relationship and had gotten into a physical struggle over a handgun. Chretien claimed that the weapon went off during the altercation, striking Dawson.
Responding officers recovered the handgun used in the shooting from a bedside table inside the home.
Detectives and forensic investigators spent hours at the residence collecting photographs and physical evidence. During the processing of the crime scene, officials also called Beaumont Animal Care to remove a small dog from the property.
As the investigation progressed, authorities determined that the physical evidence did not align with Chretien’s account. Law enforcement officials stated that the gunshot wound to Dawson’s head was not self-inflicted, leading investigators to believe that Chretien fired the weapon himself. While police have noted that the investigation remains active, they have not yet released specific details regarding the forensic findings that connect Chretien to the shooting.
Chretien is currently being held at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility. During his initial court appearance, Magistrate Richard Hughes set his bond at $1 million. As part of his bond conditions, Chretien must submit to GPS monitoring, is strictly prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition, and is barred from making any contact or communication with potential witnesses in the case.
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