Bodycam Released in Texas Mass Shooting (Death Penalty Case)

It was a routine afternoon on March 16, 2022, at the Affordable Dentures and Implants clinic in Tyler, Texas.

What started as a regular dental appointment turned into a chilling double homicide that shocked the local community and later captured national attention.

Steven Alexander Smith, a 41-year-old patient, entered the clinic that day irritated about his dental procedure.

According to a nurse’s sworn statement, Steven had been a difficult patient in the past.

His agitated behavior on this particular day prompted staff to ask Dr. Jack Burrows, a 75-year-old dentist, to intervene.

What began as a confrontation soon spiraled out of control, ending in a brutal and senseless tragedy that left two doctors dead and many lives scarred forever.

As tensions escalated, Steven’s behavior became increasingly erratic.

When Dr. Burrows attempted to de-escalate the situation by informing Steven that he could no longer be treated at the clinic, the situation exploded.

Steven, allegedly attempting to steal his dentures, shoved Dr. Burrows to the ground before storming out.

While it initially appeared that the worst was over, the true horror had yet to unfold.

Moments later, Steven returned—this time with a handgun.

Dr. Burrows tried to lock the door, but Steven forced his way back inside, knocking the elderly doctor down once more.

Another dentist, 59-year-old Dr. Blake Sinclair, tried to restrain Steven in a bear hug.

In the ensuing struggle, Steven drew his weapon and opened fire, striking both doctors multiple times.

Dr. Sinclair took four bullets, and Dr. Burrows was hit once.

The entire office was thrown into chaos.

Patients and staff screamed and ran for cover.

A nurse bravely refused Steven’s order to unlock a door, pleading for her life and mentioning her baby.

For reasons unknown—perhaps due to the plea or a sudden flicker of empathy—Steven spared her.

He then fled the scene in his vehicle.

A patient in the waiting room later recalled the horrifying events, describing how he witnessed the shooting from just feet away.

The situation had unfolded so fast that no one had time to process what was happening.

The once-calm dental office had become a war zone.

Within four minutes, first responders arrived and found the two doctors in critical condition.

Bodycam footage captured their frantic attempts to save the victims’ lives with CPR, bandages, and calming words, even as the shooter remained at large.

Dr. Sinclair and Dr. Burrows were transported to the hospital.

Though both showed signs of life at the scene, they succumbed to their injuries hours later.

The nurse’s quick thinking—snapping a photo of Steven’s license plate—proved vital.

Police tracked him to his nearby home, where a tense standoff ensued.

Officers cordoned off the area, warning neighbors to stay indoors.

After several minutes of negotiation, Steven’s parents exited the home, followed by Steven himself.

He surrendered without incident.

Inside the house, authorities found two pistols matching the caliber of the murder weapon.

While investigators hoped to learn more, Steven invoked his right to counsel, effectively halting any immediate interrogation.

He was placed under arrest and held on a $3 million bond—$2.5 million for capital murder and $500,000 for aggravated assault for pointing a gun at the nurse.

Under Texas law, the killing of more than one person during a single event constitutes capital murder, a charge that carries the possibility of the death penalty or life without parole.

The local District Attorney, Jacob Putman, initially indicated that the death penalty was on the table.

However, months later, in a surprising twist, Putman announced that the state would not pursue capital punishment.

The reason remains undisclosed, though speculation abounds.

Some point to Steven’s lack of prior criminal history.

Others cite growing public opposition to the death penalty.

Regardless of the rationale, the decision changed the course of the case.

Steven would no longer face execution but would still be held fully accountable for his crimes under Texas law.

Steven’s trial finally commenced on January 22, 2024, nearly two years after the killings.

He entered a guilty plea for both capital murder and aggravated assault, perhaps in hopes of receiving leniency.

But the court showed no sympathy.

Judge Debbie Gunter sentenced him to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

The families of Dr. Sinclair and Dr. Burrows, as well as the staff and patients affected by the tragedy, could finally begin the long journey toward closure.

In a statement after the verdict, DA Putman emphasized the gravity of the situation and praised law enforcement for their rapid response and professionalism.

He reassured the community that Steven would never be released and that justice had been served.

Today, Steven Alexander Smith, now 44 years old, remains in prison where he will spend the rest of his life.

His actions on that spring afternoon forever altered the lives of those who knew and loved the two slain doctors.

The case continues to haunt the city of Tyler, not only for its brutality but also for the way it revealed the sudden, unpredictable nature of human violence.

With the release of exclusive bodycam footage and new witness testimonies, the public now has a clearer understanding of the tragic series of events that unfolded.

And while the death penalty was ultimately removed from the equation, the life sentence ensures that Steven will never again walk free.

The clinic, the community, and the families are left to pick up the pieces of a story they never thought they’d be a part of.