FORT WORTH, TX – A 12-year-old boy from Fort Worth, Texas, has been found guilty of murder by a local jury. The conviction is related to the fatal shooting of a Sonic fast-food employee earlier this year. The incident occurred on May 13 at a Sonic drive-in located in Keene, approximately 40 miles southwest of downtown Dallas. The victim has been identified as Matthew Davis, 32.
The verdict was reached after a three-day trial and seven hours of deliberation in Johnson County Court, according to a statement released by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday. The boy, whose identity is being withheld due to his age, is expected to be sentenced later this week. The potential penalties he may face have not been disclosed by the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office.
The boy was not the only individual charged in connection with the shooting. Angel Gomez, identified as the boy’s uncle, was also implicated in the crime. The current status of Gomez’s case remains unclear as court records were not accessible on Monday.
According to a statement from the Keene Police Department, the incident began when Davis, an employee at the Sonic, confronted Gomez for causing a disturbance in the restaurant’s parking lot. A physical altercation ensued, during which the boy, seated in the back of Gomez’s vehicle, fired multiple shots at Davis using an AR-style .22 rifle. Police Chief James Kidd confirmed that at least six bullets hit Davis.
Upon arrival, responding officers found Davis suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was initially transported to a local hospital before being airlifted to another facility, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Following the shooting, the boy and Gomez fled the scene with the firearm. Gomez later came back to the scene and was arrested. The boy was located and apprehended in Rio Vista, Texas, about 20 miles south of the crime scene. Several firearms were also recovered at the location.