SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — Day two of The State of Texas v. Ryan Joaquin Renfroe began with opening statements and multiple testimonies from San Angelo Police Department officers.

Opening statements

After swearing in several people as witnesses, the State and the defense both issued their opening statements for the jury to hear. Both sides asserted that the evidence presented in the trial would make certain conclusions regarding the case evident.

According to the State, the evidence will show that the incident that would lead to the death of Jakob Jones in a downtown San Angelo alleyway on Jan. 1 began as a road rage encounter between Renfroe and Jones that happened days before the fatal shooting. The State also said evidence would show that following the road rage incident, Renfroe sought out Jones online and began to repeatedly message him in an aggressive manner, at one point messaging Jones to meet him in the alley where the shooting occurred.

The State said that the evidence would show Renfroe exiting his truck in the alleyway and shooting Jones "within seconds." It said that evidence would show Renfroe delivering conflicting testimonies to law enforcement following the shooting.

The defense stated the evidence would show that, while driving, Jones nearly struck Renfroe's vehicle and afterward began to follow Renfroe during the road rage incident. The defense said the evidence would also show that Renfroe found Jones online and began to "feud" with him, with both involved individuals making threats to the other.

The defense said that the evidence would also show two of Jones' friends joining in the online feud, at one point inviting Renfroe to Grape Creek. It also said the evidence would show that Jones and his friends arrived at Fat Boss Pub to meet with Renfroe, causing Renfroe to fear for his life and arm himself with a firearm.

The defense said that the evidence would conclusively prove that a scuffle between Renfroe and Jones resulted in Renfroe shooting Jones once, Jones lunging at Renfroe and Renfroe shooting Jones again, killing Jones in an act of self-defense. It also said that evidence would prove that Renfroe gave conflicting testimonies due to multiple factors, including trauma caused by the event and the dark lighting conditions of the alleyway during the time of the shooting.

SAPD officers take the stand

Following opening statements, the State began to call multiple SAPD members to testify. Photos displayed during several of the testimonies depicted Jones lying near the center of the alleyway and next to a white pickup, identified as Renfroe's vehicle. The photos depicted Jones lying in a pool of blood with an apparent injury to his face.

When asked by the State, multiple officers stated that there were no weapons found on or near Jones' body. Several officers also said that a handgun and gun holster were found inside of Renfroe's vehicle.

At one point during the trial proceedings, SAPD Criminal Investigations Division detective Charles Barker testified regarding an interview he conducted with Renfroe following the death of Jones. A recording of the interview was played, during which Renfroe could be seen and heard explaining his telling of events.

According to Renfroe's account in the interview recording, the road rage incident began on Main Street approximately three days prior to the shooting incident after Jones allegedly pulled out in front of him while exiting the parking lot of an Allsup's Convenience Store. Renfroe stated that his wife, Hanna Causey, made a rude gesture at the driver, after which the driver began to follow Renfroe.

Renfroe stated in the interview that he later identified Jones as the driver involved in the road rage incident using Facebook, messaging Jones and eventually partaking in an online argument with him. He stated that two friends of Jones later became involved in the online argument, with the trio suggesting that he come to Grape Creek.

Renfroe is heard in the recording stating that he declined to meet them at Grape Creek, perceiving the invitation as a threat. He stated that he later invited them to meet at the alleyway near Fat Boss Pub, believing the group would not act upon the information.

He said in the interview that he was seated in his pickup in the alleyway when a truck occupied by three people drove "right up next" to his vehicle. He said that the three individuals exited the vehicle and began yelling at him, adding that he heard the "click" of a gun's slide at one point from one of the individuals not identified as Jones.

"Whenever I heard that click ... I went into fight-or-flight mode," Renfroe said in the interview.

Renfroe stated in the recording that Jones began to approach him, causing him to fear for his life and retrieve a firearm from a locked glovebox in his vehicle before leaving the truck. Renfroe said that Jones attempted to strike him and take his gun, during which time the two individuals with Jones began "inching" toward him "like they were getting to jump" him. Renfroe said that after pushing him away, Jones reached behind his back and said, “The next one’s a blade b—-.”

Renfroe stated in the interview that he then shot Jones. He said that Jones then "lunged" at him, after which he said that he shot Jones again. He said that Jones then fell to the ground and the two individuals accompanying him left the scene of the shooting.

Concho Valley Homepage, KLST and KSAN will continue to provide coverage of The State of Texas v. Ryan Joaquin Renfroe as the trial progresses. Be sure to visit our website, Facebook pages or mobile app to stay up to date.

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