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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — The trial for a San Angelo man accused of fatally shooting another man in the downtown area during the early morning of New Year's Day 2024 began on Nov. 18.

Jury selection for The State of Texas v. Ryan Joaquin Renfroe commenced at approximately 9:45 a.m. in the 51st Judicial District Court of the Tom Green County Courthouse. Renfroe, 34, is charged with one count of murder and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The affidavit

According to an affidavit filed within Tom Green County, a murder investigation was launched on Jan. 1 at an alleyway north of Fat Boss Pub, located at 114 S. Chadbourne St. A San Angelo Police Department detective who arrived at the scene was informed that law enforcement had located a deceased individual on the ground in the alley and that the individual had "visible trauma to his frontal face area believed to be the result of being shot with a firearm."

The detective learned from an SAPD officer at the scene that Renfroe had surrendered upon the arrival of law enforcement and that "a handgun was in plain view" in Renfroe's truck, which was found to be "parked in the alley next to the victim."

The detective observed the deceased individual, identified as 23-year-old Jakob Jones, to be fully clothed and "lying on his side" in the alley "a few feet from" Renfroe's white pickup. The detective also observed "visible trauma to the victim's right eye which appeared to be a gunshot wound," "a pool of blood near the victim's head" and "two spent handgun cartridges on the ground near the victim."

The detective interviewed Hanna Causey, who is identified in the affidavit as Renfroe's wife. During this interview, Causey stated that she had been working inside Fat Boss Pub on Jan. 1 and that Renfroe "was to pick her up after work." She said that, while inside the pub, she heard "two sounds outside that sounded like balloon pops."

Causey said that Christopher Torson, a member of Fat Boss Pub security, entered the bar and informed her that Renfroe had shot someone. Causey said she exited the pub and saw Jones lying on the ground, after which she began to perform life-saving measures. She stated that Jones "was not breathing, had no pulse, and appeared to be deceased."

Causey stated that she saw Renfroe on the phone but did not speak with him. She also confirmed that Renfroe owned a 9mm handgun.

The detective then spoke to Cody Chambers, who identified himself as Jones' best friend. Chambers stated that Jones spoke to him a few days before his death about a "road rage incident" between him and Renfroe. Chambers said that "the incident spilled over to social media" and that Renfroe and Jones had "agreed to meet up near Fat Boss Pub to settle the dispute."

Chambers stated that before driving to the pub, Jones told him that "it was going to be a physical fight." He said that he drove his pickup with Jones, Hyven Laurance and Jase Wilson to the alley next to Fat Boss Pub, after which Jones "exited the left rear passenger seat of the truck to confront and fight" Renfroe.

Chambers said that he, Laurance and Wilson remained in the vehicle. He stated that he "heard two gunshots and then left the area to call the police."

The detective spoke with Torson, who was working security at the pub on Jan. 1 and was a coworker of Renfroe. Torson stated that he was taking out the trash after the pub had closed and observed Renfroe "sitting in a white pickup" in the alley located north of the establishment. He said that he sat in his own vehicle, which was parked behind Renfroe's vehicle.

Torson stated that he saw a black pickup "drive in the alley and pull up beside" Renfroe's vehicle, after which he heard two gunshots and saw Jones on the ground near Renfroe's vehicle and Renfroe standing near Jones. He said that the only people he saw outside the pub were Jones and Renfroe and that, following the incident, he "drove out of the alley, parked on Chadbourne Street in front of Fat Boss Pub, and went inside to tell the staff what he had seen."

The detective then spoke with Wilson, who said that he had been with Jones "a few days ago" and that there had been a road rage incident involving Jones' vehicle and Renfroe's vehicle. Wilson said that after the initial encounter, "the incident spilled over" to Facebook exchanges between Renfroe, Jones, Wilson and Chambers.

Wilson stated that Jones messaged him to meet him at 115 S. Chadbourne St. in an alley to "resolve the dispute." He said that he, Chambers, Laurance and Jones drove to the location in Chambers' vehicle.

Wilson stated that upon arriving at the alley, he observed Renfroe "inside a white pickup with his window down." He said Jones exited the vehicle to confront and fight Renfroe, adding that he saw Renfroe "exit his vehicle with a handgun in his hand."

Wilson said that Jones and Renfroe "struggled over the gun" and that he heard two gunshots. He said that he left the area to contact the police.

The detective then spoke to detective Thomas Gibson, who said he interviewed Laurance. Gibson stated that Laurance informed him that was in the vehicle with Chambers, Wilson and Jones. The detective learned that Laurance told Gibson that Jones left the vehicle to confront Renfroe. Laurance then heard two gunshots, after which she, Chambers and Wilson left the scene to call the police.

The detective then conducted an interview with Renfroe, who was read his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with the detective and Gibson. Renfroe stated that a few days prior to Jones' death, he had been involved in a road rage incident in San Angelo with Jones as well as "a few of the victim's friends."

Renfroe said that he found Jones on social media following the initial incident and that "the road rage incident continued" on Facebook. He said that he gave the location of Fat Boss Pub to Jones "for them to resolve the incident," adding that he "wanted to mutually fight" with Jones "one on one."

He stated that he was seated in his pickup "when a pickup truck pulled up and stopped next to his vehicle," after which "three males exited the pickup." He said that he retrieved his 9mm handgun from a locked glovebox before exiting his vehicle.

Renfroe said that "all three males approached his truck" and that he "heard a slide from a gun being pushed forward," after which Jones "approached him and began assaulting him." He stated that he pushed Jones away and yelled at him to stop.

Renfroe said that Jones then "began reaching behind his back to his waist band area." He stated that Jones said, "'The next one's a blade b----," after which Jones "took two steps toward" him.

Renfroe stated that he fired his gun once at Jones, "striking him in the lower abdomen area." He said that Jones then "lunged at him a second time," after which he fired his gun a second time. Renfroe said that Jones then fell to the ground. He stated that he then called 911 to report what had happened.

Renfroe told the detective that he "never saw the two males with a handgun or the victim with a knife during the altercation." The detective observed no visible injuries on Renfroe.

The detective reviewed photographs taken of the inside of Renfroe's pickup during a search conducted by law enforcement. The detective observed in the photos that there was a "9mm handgun on the center console" of the vehicle. Photos of different aspects of the scene depicted "two empty spent shell casings located" near Jones, both of which were "9mm in caliber."

The detective then reviewed security camera footage taken from the nearby Chadbourne Tavern. The footage depicted Jones arriving at the alleyway in a dark pickup with "blue neon lights underneath the wheel wells" at approximately 3:02 a.m. on Jan 1.

The footage showed the dark pickup "pull slightly ahead and beside" Renfroe's vehicle in the alley. Jones is then shown to exit the dark pickup from the rear-left passenger seat, after which Renfroe "fires one shot" at Jones as Jones approaches him. The recording shows Renfroe shooting Jones a second time "approximately a few seconds later." Jones then fell to the ground.

The footage showed no other individuals exiting the dark pickup apart from Jones. After the shots were fired, the pickup Jones had exited and was shown to leave the parking lot.

Footage taken from the First Methodist Church located at 37 E. Beauregard Ave. depicted Jones' pickup driving south on Chadbourne Street from Beauregard Avenue and enter the alleyway north of Fat Boss Pub, according to the affidavit. The detective stated in the affidavit that the following noises were then heard:

• A car door shutting at 02:57:22 a.m.
• Yelling at 02:57:24 a.m.
• A loud bang at 02:57:26 a.m.
• A second loud bang at 02:57:29 a.m.
• More yelling at 02:57:33 on the security footage timestamp

The footage then showed Jones' truck leaving the alley and traveling north in front of First Methodist Church at 02:57:34.

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.

Pre-Trial Coverage

News Source : https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/local-news/trial-begins-for-man-accused-of-new-years-day-murder/