A Lubbock teen is in custody in connection with a fatal July 5 shooting in North Lubbock.
Keymarion Burton, 18, was booked Wednesday, July 8 into the Lubbock County Detention Center on a charge of murder, a first-degree felony that carries a punishment of five years to life in prison.
His charge stems from a Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit investigation that began about 12:35 a.m. Sunday after officers responded to a shots fired call in the 700 block of North Ithaca Avenue.
Responding officers found 27-year-old Joe Ybarra Jr. suffering multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot, according to a police news release.
He was taken to University Medical Center where he died.
Burton was identified as a suspect in the case after detectives linked him to a Dodge Challenger Hellcat that witnesses said the shooter was in, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Crime scene investigators collected .380 and .45 caliber shell casings from the parking lot.
Meanwhile, investigators received anonymous tips that “Keymon,” who also went by the street name “K6,” owned a red Dodge Challenger with bullet holes on the passenger side, the affidavit states.
Detectives found a Facebook profile for Keymon, whose listed name was Keymarion Burton, the document states.
A search for Burton’s vehicle led investigators to a home in the 4500 block of Itasca, where a consented search yielded a red Dodge Challenger with what appeared to have bullet damage.
Detectives also spoke with Burton’s mother, who said she would get in touch with her son and contact them.
Burton’s mother called detectives early Tuesday morning, reportedly telling them that her son told her he shot Ybarra in self defense, the affidavit states.
Burton ultimately met with detectives and reportedly said he went to the apartment to meet with Ybarra to buy THC vape cartridges.
However, during the interview, Burton would change the details of his story, first admitting he was the driver then saying he was the passenger and wouldn’t identify the person he was with in the vehicle.
Burton reportedly said after confirming the price for the drugs, Ybarra brandished a pistol and aimed it at him. Burton, who reportedly said he was armed with a .45 pistol, told investigators he and Ybarra “might have fired at the same time …,” the affidavit states.
Burton reportedly said that he was later robbed of his gun but initially said he didn’t know who the robbers were, then later gave detectives the name of the person he said robbed him.
According to the probable cause affidavit, investigators determined that Burton’s self-defense claim was not credible based on the the inconsistencies and deceptions in Burton’s statement.
Detectives obtained a warrant Tuesday to arrest Burton, who was apprehended near the intersection of 66th Street and Alcove Avenue, according to jail records.
He remains held at the jail. His bond is set at $250,000.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Teen arrested in connection with fatal North Lubbock shooting
Reporting by Gabriel Monte, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Gabriel Monte, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal | USA TODAY Network
