EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes vulgarity quoted from a witness. Reader discretion is advised.

SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — Day three of The State of Texas v. Ryan Joaquin Renfroe saw employees of the pub a man was fatally shot next to and a close friend of the deceased take the stand.

San Angelo Police Department detective testifies

The first individual called to testify on day three was San Angelo Police Department detective Jason Chegwidden. Chegwidden was dispatched to an alley north of Fat Boss Pub on Jan. 1 to aid in law enforcement's investigation of a shooting incident.

Chegwidden stated that he applied for a search warrant for Renfroe's truck, which was located in the alley where Jakob Jones died. The search warrant authorized him to search for a gun capable of causing death, spent bullet casings, human tissues, clothes that bore gunshot residue and gunshot residue in the vehicle.

Chegwidden said that after obtaining the search warrant, he searched the vehicle alongside another SAPD detective. A gun, a gun holster and a black wallet were uncovered during the search.

Three clips of body camera footage filmed by Chegwidden while he searched the vehicle were then played. During questioning from the State and defense regarding the footage, Chegwidden stated that the vehicle was running, its keys were in the ignition and the driver's side window was rolled partially down prior to the search.

Pub manager takes the stand

Bianca Rodriguez, the manager of Fat Boss Pub during the time of the shooting incident, testified following Chegwidden.

Rodriguez told the jury upon questioning from the State that Renfroe, despite not being scheduled to work during the pub's New Year's Eve hours, clocked in and began to work. She said that Renfroe was permitted to continue working provided he clocked out once Christopher Torson, the doorman scheduled to work, arrived for his shift. She said that Renfroe obliged.

Rodriguez stated that following the pub's closure at 2 a.m. on New Year's Day, she heard "pops" from outside the business. Believing them to be gunshots, she warned those inside the pub about the noise.

She said that a pub employee then entered the pub and stated that Renfroe had shot someone. Rodriguez exited the pub from its back door and saw an individual deceased on the ground approximately "10 steps" away from the doorstep.

Rodriguez stated that she stayed near the man, identified as Jones, until law enforcement arrived. She testified that she did not know Jones personally and that she did not witness any individuals attempt to tamper with the body while she awaited the arrival of law enforcement.

When questioned by the State, Rodriguez stated that there were no cameras in the alley nor were there external lights on the outside of the building during the time of the shooting. She also said that Renfroe had asked her earlier in the month of December 2023 whether there were any cameras located in the alley after her car had been keyed, a question that she said she answered truthfully and believed to be "innocent" at the time it was asked.

Friend of deceased testifies

Later in the trial, 18-year-old Jase Wilson, a friend of Jones who was present during the road rage incident and the shooting incident, was called to testify.

Wilson told the jury that the road rage incident that sparked the arguments that would lead to the death of Jones occurred after Renfroe allegedly ran a red light while crossing over an overpass and through the intersection of Main Street and East 6th Street. Wilson stated that Jones' vehicle, which was driven by Jones and occupied by himself and other people, was almost struck by Renfroe as a result.

Wilson stated that Renfroe then rolled down his window, put his hand outside of it and made an obscene gesture. He said that Jones began to "tailgate" Renfroe "3 to 5 feet behind" his vehicle for a time. He stated that the road rage incident ended when Jones' vehicle "shut off" for an unknown reason on East Harris Avenue.

Facebook messages sent between Renfroe and Wilson were later displayed for the jury during the trial. Wilson stated that he initiated an online messaging conversation with Renfroe after discovering that Jones had reposted a Facebook post made by Renfroe that "targeted" Jones.

Multiple of these messages were sent on Dec. 31. Upon questioning from the defense, Wilson stated that many of the messages he sent could be perceived as threatening in nature. Both Wilson and Renfroe sent at least one message each regarding meeting each other at specific locations.

In regard to the shooting, Wilson stated that he, Jones, Cody Chambers and Hyven Laurance met at Chambers' home on New Year's Eve to purchase and set off fireworks. He stated that the group, traveling in Chambers' pickup, would at one point go to downtown San Angelo to allow Chambers to purchase a drink from a bar. he stated that this bar would be closed.

Wilson said that the group would then go to the alley north of Fat Boss Pub, stating upon questioning that the group knew of the location due to Renfroe inviting them to it. He also stated that Jones desired to go to the location to fight Renfroe and that Jones had begun to find the arguments tiring.

"He didn't want the drama anymore," Wilson said.

Wilson stated that the group arrived at the alleyway in Chambers' truck at 2:57 a.m. on New Year's Day. He said that their vehicle drove past Renfroe's and that Renfroe could be heard saying, "I'm right here, motherf---er," as they drove past, adding that he was able to hear this statement due to his and Renfroe's windows being rolled down at the time.

Wilson said that Jones exited their truck unarmed before the vehicle had stopped and began to approach Renfroe, stating "let's fight." The defense later stated that Wilson's hearing of this statement was not recorded in Wilson's written statement taken following the shooting incident.

He stated none of the other occupants of Chambers' pickup left the vehicle, adding that he observed what transpired in the alley by watching it with his head outside of a window of the truck.

Wilson stated that Jones observed that Renfroe was wielding a firearm and attempted to wrestle it away from him, repeatedly saying "no, stop," in the process. He said that Renfroe then shot Jones, after which Jones began "grabbing his abdomen" from the front side of his body. He said Renfroe then shot Jones again and that Jones fell to the ground afterward.

Wilson said that the occupants of Chambers' vehicle then left the alley and drove to the police station. He said that he called 911 during this drive.

Security camera footage taken from the time of the shooting incident was played during Wilson's time on the stand. Footage with no audio taken from a Chadbourne Tavern camera mounted to observe the tavern's front patio showed Chambers' pickup entering the alley, after which an individual can be seen exiting the vehicle. Wilson identified this person as Jones.

Later in the footage, two flashes of light can be seen emitting from the alley. The man Wilson identified as Jones then could be seen falling to the ground, after which Chambers' vehicle could be observed driving away from the alley.

Footage pulled from a separate camera that recorded audio recorded the sound of two banging noises emanating near a road in downtown San Angelo. Following the noises, Chambers' vehicle could be seen driving down this road while an individual shouts. Wilson identified this voice as his own, stating that he was urging Chambers to drive following 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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News Source : https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/local-news/pub-manager-deceaseds-friend-testify-in-new-years-day-murder-trial/