Home Scandal and Gossip Texas A&M gunman arrested. Motive still unknown

Texas A&M gunman arrested. Motive still unknown

Christopher Koulouris: About author bio at bottom of article.
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Brandon Ray Gonzales
Pictured, Brandon Ray Gonzales.
Brandon Ray Gonzales
Pictured, Brandon Ray Gonzales.

Brandon Ray Gonzales, Texas A&M gunman arrested in Greenville shooting. No known motive as suspect alleges he is innocent.

A man suspected of opening fire at an off-campus college party over the weekend in Texas, killing two people and injuring 12 others has been arrested.

Brandon Ray Gonzales, 23, of Greenville, Texas, was taken into custody less than 48 hours after Saturday’s shooting, Hunt County Sheriff Randy Meeks said on Monday. Gonzales, who was arrested at the auto dealership where he worked, was booked into the Hunt County jail on a charge of capital murder of multiple persons. Bond was set at $1 million. Gonzales has maintained he is innocent.

A search of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s database, revealed Brandon Gonzales having no prior history of criminal convictions.

The shooting happened around midnight Saturday outside Greenville, 15 miles (24 kilometers) southwest of a satellite campus of the Texas A&M University System. Authorities believe the shooter may have been targeting just one person at the party of about 750 people, and that others may have been shot at random, Meeks has said.

Kevin Berry Jr. of Dallas and Byron Craven Jr. of Arlington, both 23, were killed, authorities said. It was unclear which of the two men may have been targeted (or why?) – this despite suggestions Berry who also goes by the name of Choppaboy Wess– maintaining a Facebook account replete with photos of him holding wads of cash and posing with guns. 

Of note, authorities have yet to establish a motive.

Kevin Berry aka Choppaboy Wess.
Pictured, Kevin Berry aka Choppaboy Wess. Image via Facebook.

Brandon Gonzales Greenville alleged shooter maintains innocence:

The shooting took place at a Halloween and homecoming party for Texas A&M University-Commerce at a facility called The Party Venue, with school officials saying it was not a school-sanctioned event.

Authorities believe the shooter entered the venue through the back door and began firing with a handgun, Meeks said. It was ‘complete chaos’ after the shots rang out, with hundreds of people including the gunman fleeing, the sheriff said.

In an interview from the Hunt County jail in Greenville, Texas, Gonzales told WFAA-TV that he was at the party dressed as a security guard but that he was in his car outside the party hall when the gunfire erupted. He said he has witnesses who can corroborate his whereabouts, but he wouldn’t identify those witnesses in the interview.

Sheriff Meeks said investigators were able to identify Gonzales as the alleged shooter after ‘pushing and pushing until people finally started coming forward.’ The man’s arrest comes despite complaints from authorities who said they were ‘appalled’ at witnesses general reluctance to come forward. 

Of the 12 people injured, six were shot and six were trampled or hurt by glass, authorities said. Five remained in the hospital — one in critical condition and four in good condition — on Monday, Meeks said.

Authorities haven’t found the weapon used in the shooting, Meeks said.

Byron Craven Jr
Pictured, Byron Craven Jr (left) and Kevin Berry (right).

Greenville shooting leaves community on edge:

After a vigil for Berry on Sunday night at a Dallas park, at least one person opened fire. Dallas police said no one was injured but several vehicles were reported damaged.

Texas A&M University-Commerce had planned to hold a community gathering Monday afternoon featuring student and faith-based leaders along with counselors. But the school later said that based on conversations with students, the decision was made to postpone the gathering. University officials did not elaborate.

As of Monday afternoon, five people remained hospitalized, including one patient in critical condition.

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