Man sentenced for Killeen murder requests to hold his baby for first time

BELTON — Chubby, smiling babies are not often among the attendees at sentencing hearings in criminal district courtrooms, which typically are grim occasions; but this week, the child of a murder defendant was present so that he — the child’s father — would be able to hold the infant before being sent to prison for decades. It was not to happen, however. Donovan Lee Mann, 21, of Killeen pleaded guilty on Friday to a first-degree felony charge of murder. He shot and killed 16-year-old Eugene Sonny Brownlow IV, during an incident at a convenience store in Killeen on the morning of May 8, 2023.