Second man arrested in connection with June 15 Copperas Cove shooting
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
A second man was arrested on Tuesday by Copperas Cove police in connection with a June 15 shooting that left one man injured and another man dead at an apartment triplex in the 400 block of North 7th Street.
Christopher Lee Jones, age 32, was charged with tampering with physical evidence, illegal possession of a firearm by a felon, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
According to the arrest affidavit, Jones, a “self-described brother” of 35-year-old Eric Wayne Rodgers, said that two Hispanic males had pulled up in front of the residence and Rodgers confronted them in the street, where he was shot.
The driver of the vehicle, Anthony Ramos, age 22, was eventually arrested by Killeen Police and the U.S. Marshals.
According to the arrest affidavit for Ramos, Jones gave a description of Ramos and another individual whom Jones alleged that Rodgers had a confrontation with earlier at the 7-Eleven on West Avenue B. Video surveillance obtained from the store showed Ramos and another male at the store that evening. Jones also described the Silverado Ramos drove that was later identified as being owned by Ramos’ cousin.
As the investigation continued, video surveillance footage from Jones’s father, who has cameras at his residence, revealed Jones running up to Ramos’ vehicle as the shooting occurred. Jones could be seen holding an object, initially believed to be a knife. Jones dropped to his knee by Rodgers’ side, then could be seen standing up and throwing the object over roof of the apartment building.
Officers attempted to locate the knife and spoke with Jones about it, who alleged that it had landed in another backyard and he would bring it to police. However, Jones never showed up.
After obtaining additional surveillance footage, it was revealed that the object Jones held was actually a pistol and that he had aimed it at Ramos prior to Rodgers being shot.
Rodgers suffered two gunshot wounds and was transported to AdventHealth in Killeen by Copperas Cove EMS where he was pronounced deceased.
The second victim, Darien Selby, was struck in the abdomen by a bullet that passed through the front of his residence. He was transported to Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Temple by Copperas Cove EMS where he was treated and released.
Ramos remains in the Coryell County Jail on $250,000 in bonds for aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Jones is presently in the Coryell County Jail on a bond of $100,000.