Mother of Cuero shooting suspect says son acted in self-defense

Two Cuero men charged with murder, more arrests 'very possible'

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Cuero police discuss the shooting death of Isaac Gamez
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  • THOSE ARRESTED SO FAR Javance Thomas, 20, murder, $250,000 bond. Marquis Headley, 18, murder, $250,000 bond; violation of probation, no bond. Justin Mathis, 20, possession of a firearm by a felon, $10,000 bond; possession of marijuana less than 2 ounces, $1,000 bond. Michael Villarreal, 21, six separate charges of bail jumping and failure to appear, total bonds more than $300,000; evading arrest and detention, $1,000 bond; unlawfully carrying a weapon, $2,000 bond; manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, $75,000 bond. Some of the charges against Mathis and Villarreal were on outstanding warrants. SOURCE: DeWitt County Detention Center
    THOSE ARRESTED SO FAR -2010-03-01 23:12:00

CUERO - The mother of one of the men charged with the death of 26-year-old Isaac Gamez in Cuero said Monday that her son acted in self-defense.

Nellie McKaine, mother of 20-year-old Javance Lee Thomas, said the Friday shooting occurred at the home her son shares with his father on Togo Street and that Gamez and the men with him were trespassing.

"What were they doing in my son's yard?" she asked. "I'm just trying to understand why he is being charged."

Thomas and Marquis Headley, 18, are charged with murder and are being held in DeWitt County Jail on $250,000 bail.

McKaine said she met with Cuero Police Chief Chris Hernandez on Monday morning and, according to McKaine, the police chief told her they were getting different versions from different witnesses.

"He told me some of them are saying Javance pulled the trigger," a tearful McKaine said. "That's his dad's home, and he is in rehab at a nursing home. If Javance did do the shooting, he was protecting his property from everyone coming there."

Hernandez said Cuero police were "getting close" to identifying the shooter. The weapon used in the shooting has not been recovered.

Gamez suffered one gunshot wound to the body, the police chief said.

Hernandez said the investigation so far is indicating that Michael Villarreal, 21, and Justin Mathis, 20, were also involved in the shooting. The investigation is leading police to believe "multiple actors were involved" and additional arrests were "very possible," Hernandez said.

"We are going to talk to Michael Sheppard (DeWitt County District Attorney) and see if we can go with charges of organized crime as well," Hernandez said.

Of the arrests made so far, all the men have prior criminal convictions, except Thomas.

The victim also has a criminal history, according to official documents.

Cuero police issued a news release Monday morning detailing some of what took place Friday night:

About 9 p.m., a 911 call came in about a shooting in the 200 block of Togo Street. Attempts at CPR were made at the scene by emergency personnel, but Gamez was later pronounced dead at Cuero Community Hospital.

Investigation led police to the Clarence Street and Alonzo Street area, where some of those involved in the shooting were believed to be. Villarreal and Mathis, both of Cuero, were arrested at that location and crack cocaine, marijuana and two guns were found.

Villarreal fled from police for about 20 yards, but was apprehended, Hernandez said.

Thomas turned himself in to the DeWitt County Sheriff's Office about 10:30 p.m. Headley was found about an hour later in the Oaks Apartments and had to be convinced to surrender.

Hernandez also took questions from the media.

He would not verify that the shooting began as an argument at a Cuero convenience store, but, the news release said, "investigation revealed a fight had taken place ending in the fatal shooting of the victim."

Hernandez said police are investigating information about what led up to the shooting. He added that any gang ties are also being investigated.

"We believe it was an ongoing feud," Hernandez said.

Asked about possible retaliation, the police chief said, "it's always a concern when the feud is ongoing as it is, and you have a shooting involved and emotions are flaring."

"We have folks that want a speedy process and may even want revenge. It's always possible on both sides. We are staying in close contact with the victim's family, assuring them that we are doing our part," Hernandez said.

According to information provided for Gamez's obituary, the tile contractor is married and the father of three sons.

"I'm friends with that family. This is tearing me up," McKaine said.

The Gamez family declined comment at this time.


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Comments

  • Redneckgirl, for some reason I get the sneaking suspicion he wasn't going after milk....but okay you have a point.

    March 2, 2010 at 8:59 a.m.
  • dollie-----Maybe he went to the store at 10 PM to get some milk for his kids. Don't you ever go the store at night to get something?

    March 2, 2010 at 8:47 a.m.
  • What does it matter now? So, he had a criminal history, he is dead, let him rest in peace. The thing which should be of concern is the fact that these boys killed him, for what, so they could prove they are tough. I know who these boys are, and they DO run the streets trying to do things to scare others, they run around doing and selling drugs, and doing whatever they feel like doing with no regards to the rest of society. They run the streets like they own them, and they will not move out of the way, they expect you go just go around them in your car. So, put the blame where it belongs, with these street-running punks, not on the dead man. (one of the murderers was just released from jail for selling cocaine, it was public knowledge)

    The real truth is going around the school, these boys who did this, did not go to school, they were drop outs, but there are other kids there who know them, my son hears all this in school, and knows a little about them because they are the ones I caught him trying to run with. I put that to a screeching halt, I had him arrested, I took him to the police station and ask them to arrest him, they did, and he spent some time in jail for this, so I caused him to have a criminal history. However, he now knows I will not tolerate anything, and will not hesitate to have him arrested again, so he pretty much walks the line. My POINT is; he does know WHAT these boys are capable of, because before I caught him he tried to follow them. He said they would do this, JUST because they wanted to, JUST because they wanted to prove they are tough, JUST because they want to scare other people and laugh about it, NOT BECAUSE THEY FELT A THREAT.

    March 2, 2010 at 8:31 a.m.
  • this comment for mexirican u wrote who cares they are thugs anyway who r u to judge pple it doesnt matter wut they are if they r thugs r not they r still pple wut matters is there are 3 lil kids that r NOT able to see there dad any more a wife that NOT ablt to kisss her husband goodbye before he goes and come homes from wrk so before u write something so hate full think before u write something r better yet dnt write anything at all none of mr gamez family are going to be able to him again... but tha other guys are able to see there family my prayers goes to the gamez family one more thing if mr gamez was a thug .. in heaven they do take thungs.......

    March 2, 2010 at 8:16 a.m.
  • To My Baby Girl who has lost her husband, the father of her children, her best friend and her soul mate. I know all too well the pain that you feel Honey; I feel it too.. It's not easy going through a loss~ The myriad of emotions that you are experiencing ~ anger, frustration, sadness, loneliness and more ~ is all normal, but you probably don’t feel too normal right now. You’re probably scared. Scared to start over at such a young age when you thought you were supposed to be married for the rest of your life.. A mother of three beautiful boys, it’s going to be hard to focus on your own grief right now because I’m sure you are thinking about having to care for them alone.

    You also might feel like the loneliest person in the world right now, but you are not alone Honey, as you well know.
    Baby Girl, I would like to say that I’m so happy you joined such a wonderful family.. They are One of the most Loving, Caring and Giving Families I have ever met in my entire life…
    ~You are so very Blessed~

    People are going to have their own opinions on what they think happened and stories will get turned way away from truth~ None of that matters at this point.

    This Family has such a Strong Bond NO ONE will ever take away, no matter how hard they try… With The Good Lord Backing Them Every Step Of The Way and Justice being served by the Law…
    This is all that is needed …

    I Love you Honey from the bottom of my heart~
    Momma

    Out of respect for OUR Family and especially My Grandbabies~ I hope and pray if you have just one ounce of kindness in your heart all of these hurtful comments will stop~

    Kimberly K Krueger


    March 2, 2010 at 7:42 a.m.
  • hvilletx...how do you know he running was towards him? My understanding is that he was running away if he was running away...why shoot? Its just sad for both families....no matter how many different spins we put on this sad tragedy

    March 2, 2010 at 6:31 a.m.
  • From what I understand the victim was in an altercation with the shooter earlier that night and then went to his house...for what? wasn't selling Girls scout cookies thats for damn sure!!!! He had no business going there with or w/out intentions of doing harm. If it wouldve been me I'd have done the same thing but I might have shot him below the waist trying not to kill him...but when a person is afraid for their life you dont react so cautiously... Enough? how do you know they had time to call the cops? If someone is running towards you with intent to harm u are you gonna say "wait hold on a minute I gotta call 911"? absolutely ridiculous...think about if it was you, what would you do?

    March 2, 2010 at 12:22 a.m.
  • I know the mother wants to do what she can for her son, But, I cannot agree that it was in any way self defense. He did not have get a gun and kill a man because he was in his yard. There has to be a lot more than meets the eye. And, he needs to pay for killing another.

    March 1, 2010 at 11:42 p.m.
  • Come on now...self defense? How about calling the cops and saying someone was trepassing instead of shooting him? I understand that she doesnt want her son going to prison but also theres a family out there with no father,son or brother now...

    March 1, 2010 at 10:10 p.m.