2 arrested for murdering Mesquite grandfather during robbery
MESQUITE, Texas - Police have arrested two people for allegedly murdering a man during a robbery outside his own home in Mesquite last week.
Brayshun Jones, 22, and Shatoria Jefferson, 23, are both charged with capital murder for 50-year-old Raul Garcia-Torres’ death.
Police believe Jones and Jefferson followed Garcia-Torres home from work last Thursday evening. They tried to rob him in his own driveway and during the course of the robbery shot and killed him.
Garcia-Torres’ wife was inside the house at the time and heard the shooting.
“Why? Why did he do this?” said Blanca Mendez, the victim’s stepdaughter. “He could’ve just taken the money. His wallet. But he took a lot from us. He took a lot from my mom.”
Mendez described Garcia-Torres as a caring husband and grandfather to 15 grandchildren. She said they all spent Christmas together as a family – not knowing it would be their last.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Jones and Jefferson used Garcia-Torres’ credit cards to buy shoes and eat dinner at a restaurant right after the murder. Officers saw fraud alerts popping up on Garcia-Torres’ cellphone as they were investigating.
Once police tracked down Jones, he allegedly admitted to the crime and said Jefferson was his getaway driver. Some of Garcia-Torres’ items were reportedly found in Jefferson’s car, the affidavit states.
Police believe the motive was robbery. It's still unclear why it turned deadly. The arrest warrant affidavit gives a hint saying Jones and Garcia-Torres worked at the same place and were seen leaving work together the evening he was murdered.
Jones admitted a handgun found in Jefferson's vehicle was the murder weapon but police have yet to confirm that through ballistics tests. Jefferson told authorities it belonged to her.
Both Jefferson and Jones remain in the Lew Sterrett Justice Center.