Newly filed court documents are shedding light on a shooting in Amarillo’s Southlawn neighborhood that left one man dead, another wounded, and three men behind bars facing murder charges.
The records also reveal alleged ties to the Aryan Brotherhood, conflicting statements to investigators, and accusations that one suspect was ordered to lie about who pulled the trigger.
Skylar Lee Mensen, 33, Jesse James Franklin, 34, and Dennis Charles Carlson, 49, are all charged with murder in connection with the Oct. 22 shooting death of 48-year-old Bradley Thompson.
Thompson was shot multiple times near Southwest 40th Avenue and South Polk Street.
Witnesses Describe Deadly Shooting
According to a criminal complaint filed in Randall County, Amarillo police received several 911 calls on the evening of Oct. 22 reporting gunfire in or near the 4000 block of South Polk Street.
Witnesses told investigators they saw two white men get out of a compact SUV before firing multiple rounds at Thompson.
After the shooting, the men reportedly ran back to the SUV and fled the scene, driving down the street in reverse.
Investigators later obtained home security camera footage that corroborated witness accounts of the men returning to the vehicle and backing away from the scene.
As detectives began piecing together what happened, they learned Franklin had recently been involved in an argument with Thompson.
That information led investigators to begin surveillance at Franklin’s residence.
During a traffic stop involving an SUV driven by Franklin’s wife, officers searched the vehicle and seized a firearm.
Franklin was located later that day during a separate traffic stop. According to the complaint, he was hiding in the backseat of the vehicle.
Suspect Changes Story, Leads Police to Alleged Murder Weapon
When investigators questioned Franklin about Thompson’s death, he initially claimed he had been driving the SUV while Carlson shot Thompson.
Franklin identified Mensen as the second man witnesses saw getting out of the vehicle.
But during a separate interview with another investigator, Franklin changed his story.
This time, he told police that Mensen, not Carlson, was the person who shot Thompson.
Franklin reportedly admitted he had lied during his first interview because Carlson directed him to do so.
He also provided investigators with information about where they could find the alleged murder weapon. Police subsequently located and recovered the firearm.
Franklin then disclosed another significant detail: Mensen had also been shot during the incident.
According to the complaint, Franklin told investigators Mensen's injury was serious and directed them to a residence in Potter County where he could be found.
Investigators went to the home and located Mensen, who was taken to an area hospital because of the severity of his injury.
He was admitted for medical treatment.
The filings do not explain how Mensen was shot or who fired the round that injured him.
New Charges Reveal Alleged Aryan Brotherhood Connections
The investigation has also led to additional charges involving alleged organized criminal activity.
When Amarillo police first announced the arrests on Oct. 24, the three men faced different charges.
Mensen was charged with murder, Franklin was being held on a narcotics violation and a federal hold, and Carlson was being held on a parole violation.
At the time, police indicated additional charges were expected.
On Nov. 3, the department announced that both Franklin and Carlson were facing new charges.
Franklin is now charged with murder and two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity.
Carlson faces murder, engaging in organized criminal activity, and two counts of directing activities of a criminal street gang or foreign terrorist organization.
Mensen's original murder charge remains unchanged.
According to the criminal complaints, the organized crime allegations against Franklin and Carlson involve the Aryan Brotherhood.
Franklin is identified as a "member" of the organization, while Carlson is described as being part of its "identifiable leadership."
The allegations against Carlson go a step further.
Court documents accuse him of directing other members affiliated with the organization to commit "aggravated assault or retaliation."
The filings do not identify the reason for the alleged retaliation or establish whether it was connected to Thompson's killing.
Police Announcement Raises Questions About Booking Timeline
The newly available records also reveal a discrepancy between Amarillo police's initial announcement and Randall County Jail booking records.
In an Oct. 24 Facebook release, police stated that Mensen had been booked into the Randall County Jail along with Franklin and Carlson.
However, jail booking records show Mensen was not actually booked into the facility until Oct. 30, nearly a week after the shooting.
According to the court documents, Mensen had been hospitalized for treatment of the gunshot wound he sustained during the incident.
His booking into the jail occurred following his discharge from the hospital.
All Three Suspects Remain in Custody
As of the latest available jail records, all three men remain in custody at the Randall County Jail.
Mensen is being held without bond.
Franklin's bond is set at $500,000, and he also has a federal hold.
Carlson's bond is set at $750,000.
While the filings provide a more detailed account of the shooting and the events that followed, questions remain about what led to the confrontation, how Mensen was wounded, and the extent of the alleged gang involvement.
