A 12-year-old boy armed with an AR style 22 rifle is accused of of fatally shooting a fast-food employee as the worker argued with another man at a Texas drive-in restaurant, police said.
The shooting took place May 13 at a Sonic in Keene, about 40 miles southwest of downtown Dallas, and claimed the life of 32-year-old Matthew Davis.
According to the Keene Police Department, Davis worked at the Sonic and, about 9:40 p.m. that day, confronted a man identified as Angel Gomez, 20, for “being disorderly in the parking lot.”
A physical fight broke out, police said in a statement, and the 12-year-old boy shot Davis multiple times from the back seat of Gomez’s vehicle.
Police Chief James Kidd told USA TODAY Tuesday the weapon used “appears to be an AR style 22 rifle” and at least 6 shots were fired, striking the victim. Other media outlets initially reported the firearm was an AR-15, but the chief said that was incorrect.
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Arriving officers said they found Davis suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital, then taken by medical helicopter to another facility where he died.
‘An isolated incident’
The boy and Gomez, who police said are both from Fort Worth, fled the area with the weapon.
According to the police report, Gomez returned to the scene after the shooting and was arrested.
Police said they located the boy about 15 miles south of Keene and took him into custody. They also said they confiscated several firearms from the juvenile.
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Gomez and the juvenile remained in custody Tuesday, Kidd said, both charged with murder.
“This seems to be an isolated incident that was not racially motivated, or gang affiliated,” Kidd said.
The chief also said it was not immediately known if prosecutors plan to charge the boy as an adult.
Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.
