A tragic incident unfolded at a Sonic Drive-In restaurant in Keene, Texas, as a 12-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man have been charged with murder after the juvenile allegedly shot and killed an employee. The shooting occurred on Saturday evening at the Sonic located on South Old Betsy Road, approximately 30 miles south of Fort Worth.
According to local police, the 20-year-old man, Angel Gomez, arrived at the Sonic with other passengers in a car and began acting disorderly in the parking lot. Matthew Davis, a 32-year-old Sonic worker, confronted Gomez after observing him urinating in the parking lot, as reported by NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. The confrontation between Davis and Gomez escalated into a physical altercation.
During the altercation, the 12-year-old juvenile, who was a passenger in Gomez’s vehicle, allegedly retrieved a firearm and fired multiple shots, striking and fatally injuring Davis. Keene Police Chief James Kidd stated that the weapon used in the attack appeared to be an “AR-style” rifle, and at least six shots were fired at the victim.
Authorities believe that the 12-year-old is the alleged shooter in this tragic incident. The police statement clarified that the shooting seemed to be an isolated incident, devoid of racial motives or gang affiliations.
Law enforcement officers were called to the scene, but both Gomez and the juvenile had already fled. However, Gomez later returned to the scene and was taken into custody. The juvenile was apprehended by authorities in Rio Vista, where they also recovered multiple firearms.
Matthew Davis, the victim, was rushed to Harris Methodist Hospital but succumbed to his multiple gunshot wounds. A fundraiser has been initiated to support Davis’ family and cover funeral expenses, revealing that he leaves behind a 10-year-old son. The fundraiser has already raised over $10,000 to provide assistance.
Sonic, in a statement, expressed their sadness over the tragic incident involving one of their franchised team members in Keene. The franchisee is fully cooperating with the local authorities as they conduct their investigation into the matter.
The community and the nation mourn the loss of a life in this senseless act of violence, raising concerns about the accessibility of firearms and the need for stricter gun control measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.