Texas Woman Allegedly Orchestrated Deadly Drive-By Shooting After Victim Took Her Drugs, Gun: Authorities

A Texas woman is accused of orchestrating a drive-by shooting that took the life of a man almost two years ago, authorities said.

On Oct. 12, Margaret Stewart, 30, was arrested on murder and aggravated assault charges in connection with the death of 33-year-old Bryan Johnson, who was fatally shot in the head as he sat in a car in Waco, KWTX reported.

In November 2020, Stewart called her friend, Berry Raydell Freeman, 28, and asked for his help getting “her stuff back” after Johnson allegedly took drugs and a gun from her, an arrest affidavit obtained by the station states.

She then picked up Freeman as well as a second man and headed to an area where Johnson liked to hang out and they spotted his vehicle. After circling the block, the affidavit states, Freeman and the second man opened fire on Johnson, killing him.

Freeman pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge and he was sentenced last month to 20 years behind bars.

According to KWTX, Freeman’s original murder charge was reduced after ballistics tests showed a gun in his possession at the time of his arrest was not the weapon that killed Johnson.

Stewart was booked into the McLennan County jail and was being held on a $1 million bond.