On October 5, a 13-year-old boy in Keene, Texas, was convicted of the murder of a 32-year-old Sonic Drive-In employee.
The shooting occurred in May in the parking lot of the Sonic Drive-In restaurant.
Reportedly, the boy’s uncle, Angel Gomez, was urinating in the parking lot outside the restaurant, leading to an altercation with Sonic employee Matthew Davis. Gomez’s nephew, seated in the back seat of the vehicle, retrieved an AR-style rifle when the dispute occurred, and without hesitation, he fired several shots at Davis, causing fatal injuries.
Following the shooting, both the boy and his uncle fled the scene. However, Gomez later returned to the location and was arrested on a murder warrant. The young boy was eventually found and arrested in a town nearby after an extensive search by law enforcement.
The trial, which garnered significant attention due to the boy’s age, concluded with the jury’s decision. The jury found the boy to have engaged in delinquent conduct; a term used in the juvenile legal system that is equivalent to a guilty verdict in adult court.
Davis’ death has had a profound impact on the local community, with many expressing shock and grief. The juvenile court will soon determine the sentencing for the boy, who, depending on the decision, could face outcomes ranging from probation to a long-term sentence.
While Gomez awaits his trial, court records show Gomez was indicted on a charge of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.