12-year-old Texas boy convicted of killing Sonic employee during dispute

KEENE, Texas (TCD) -- A young teen was convicted last week of fatally shooting a Sonic employee during a dispute in a parking lot.

According to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, on Thursday, Oct. 5, jurors found the unidentified teen delinquent, which is the juvenile equivalent of guilty, for the murder of Matthew Davis.

On Saturday, May 13, at around 9:40 p.m., the Keene Police Department responded to the Sonic Drive-In on South Old Betsy Road and found Davis, 32, suffering from several gunshot wounds. Medical personnel arrived at the scene and transported Davis to Harris Methodist Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Twenty-year-old Angel Gomez went to the Sonic with other people in his car and urinated in the parking lot, KDFW-TV reports. Davis confronted Gomez, and the two reportedly got into a fight that became physical. During the altercation, the suspect, who was 12 years old at the time, got an AR-style rifle out of his uncle’s car and shot Davis several times.

Following the shooting, the juvenile, his aunt, and Gomez fled the scene. Gomez reportedly returned, and police took him into custody.

According to police, officials later found the 12-year-old in Rio Vista and recovered multiple firearms.

Amy Pardo from the Johnson County Attorney's Office told The Associated Press that the boy may face anywhere from probation to 40 years in prison. His sentencing was scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 12.

Court records obtained by The Associated Press show that Gomez was indicted on charges of tampering with or fabricating evidence.

MORE:

• 12-year-old boy receives murder verdict - Johnson County Sheriff's Office
• 12-year-old accused of fatally shooting Texas Sonic employee during altercation, 5/16/2023 - TCD
• Homicide Investigation, 5/13/2023 - Keene Police Department
• 12-year-old convicted after killing Keene Sonic worker with AR-style rifle - KDFW
• 13-year-old Texas boy convicted of murder in fatal shooting at a Sonic Drive-In, authorities say - The Associated Press