TexasCHLforum.com

The body of Kevin Powell, 18, was found Monday outside of the Tompkins Green Apartments in Baytown.

Detectives said four of the students arrested are in high school. All confessed to beating Powell to death, according to authorities.

Baytown police said Marcus Jason, 18, Joshua Rider, 19, Joshua Ashford, 17, Cedrick Fears, 17, and Charles Merritt, 18, were charged with murder.

"They all took an active role in the death of Mr. Powell," said Lt. Eric Freed with the Baytown Police Department.

Police said the five beat Powell to death over an argument that escalated out of control.

Investigators said the violence started after one of the suspects had his windows busted out and gunshots fired at his car in what police called an ongoing feud.

Officials said the suspects believed the victim took part in the vandalism and jumped him around 1 a.m. Monday.

Powell's body was found hours later.

"We developed persons of interest which some of them actually turned out to be suspects. When we started interviewing suspects, we started getting confessions," Freed said.

Most of the suspects were rounded up quickly thanks to La Porte Police Street Crimes detectives.

Police said the suspects used just about anything they could find to beat Powell.

"There was a lid of a nearby barbecue pit as well as the hands and feet of the actors and the presence of a pistol," Freed said. "I don't think it was their intention to kill Kevin Powell. I think they intended to beat him and send a message to him and maybe his friends and maybe it got out of hand."

Bonds for the suspects were set at $100,000 each.

I think they intended to beat him and send a message to him and maybe his friends and maybe it got out of hand."