Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Office

10/22/2026

Deputies are on scene at a plane crash involving a single engine aircraft on Fm 343. Both people in the plane are reportedly in good condition and only suffered minor injuries. Please avoid this area if possible.

10/22/2026

Further details of the suspect arrested in the shooting incident:

A suspect involved in a shooting on Highway 21 W in the Douglass Community has been arrested and booked into the Nacogdoches County Jail. The subject has been identified as Layten Bradley Dafft, 19 years old, from Tyler, Texas.

The shooting occurred on October 13, 2026, on Highway 21 W near the Post Office in Douglass, Texas. The motive behind the shooting appears to be a road rage incident. The suspect and his passenger were at a store in the Douglass community when the suspect pulled out between two motorcycles traveling westbound on Highway 21. The lead motorcycle pulled to the shoulder to let the vehicle pass. After the suspect passed the motorcycle, the suspect vehicle began braking and driving erratically. The suspect vehicle then stopped, and the subjects engaged in a verbal argument. After the verbal conflict, both motorcycles attempted to drive away from the suspect vehicle. During this time, the suspect pulled a weapon and started shooting at them several times. A passenger who was riding on the rear motorcycle was struck in the back.

Law enforcement arrived on scene, and the victim was transported to an area hospital, where she currently remains in the Intensive Care Unit. At the time, sheriff deputies had only a partial vehicle description and little else. A search for the vehicle was conducted, but it was not located that night.

Investigators with the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office took over the case and started the investigation. With little to go on, investigators began combing the area for evidence. After several days of investigation and coordination with other law enforcement agencies, investigators identified a possible suspect vehicle from the Tyler area.

Investigators with NCSO, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office spent several days looking for the vehicle. An investigator with the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office found the vehicle pulling into a business in the Tyler area.

NCSO investigators coordinated with local law enforcement, and officers conducted a traffic stop of the suspect vehicle, which led to a search. During the search, investigators found shell casings in the suspect vehicle.

Investigators interviewed the suspect and another passenger. During the interview, the suspect confessed to the shooting that occurred in the Douglass Community. The passenger also conveyed details that corroborated the suspect's statements.

After the interview, investigators obtained a warrant for the suspect, and he was taken into custody and booked into the Smith County Jail. Layten Dafft was charged with one count of Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon, a 2nd degree felony, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

The suspect was transported to the Nacogdoches County jail on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, where he was additionally charged with two more counts of Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon, a 2nd-degree felony. Bond has been set at 350,000 on all charges.

The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Texas Department of Public Safety, Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Nacogdoches and Smith County District Attorney’s Office for their valuable assistance during this investigation.

10/22/2026

10/21/2026

Shooting suspect in Custody:

A shooting that occurred on October 13, 2026, in the Douglass community has landed a Tyler man in jail. Deputies were dispatched to Highway 21 west near the Douglass Post Office around 11:30 P.M. on October 13, 2026, in reference to a victim being shot while riding on the back of a motorcycle. The victim was transported to a local hospital and currently remains in the hospital in critical condition.

Deputies and CID investigators arrived at the scene and conducted an investigation. The shooting apparently occurred over a road rage incident in which the suspect pulled a gun from his vehicle and started shooting at three people who were riding motorcycles. One of the victims was shot in the back by the suspect. The suspect then fled the scene.

The Sheriff's Office has not issued a press release on the case because it had very limited information at the beginning of the investigation. As the investigation evolved, law enforcement did not want the suspect to learn any details that could affect the investigation.

A suspect was arrested yesterday afternoon and booked into the Smith County Jail for Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon. Authorities will transport the suspect back to Nacogdoches County Jail at a later date, with more charges to follow.

A detailed press release identifying the suspect and providing more case details will be released tomorrow.

10/08/2026

Missing Bull:
We are asking Woden residents to be on the lookout for a Black Brangus Bull. The bull escaped its pen sometime Saturday night, 10-4-2026, on Cr. 509. Deputies had a possible sighting of the bull on Sunday on Woden Road near County Road 536, but they were unable to locate it when they arrived.
The bull is two years old and solid black. It has an ear tag in its right ear and the number 866 branded on its left side.
If you see the bull or have any information, please notify dispatch at 936-559-2607.

10/05/2026

Burn ban:
The burn ban for Nacogoches County has been lifted. We would still ask residents to use caution while burning and monitor all burn piles and always monitor wind conditions.

10/01/2026

On Friday, September 25, 2026, the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office was honored to give the oath of office to two of our employees who have achieved a lifelong dream of becoming Texas Peace Officers.
Matthew Keen and Corey Denney have recently graduated from the Kilgore Police Academy. Both men were selected to attend the academy after completing all requirements set forth by NCSO and working over a year in the jail division.
Both men have gone above and beyond in their work at NCSO. We look forward to watching them continue to grow in this new chapter of their career while serving our great community.