Son Charged in Brutal Murder of Phyllis James and Shane James Sr. in East Bexar County Home; Suspect Allegedly Goes on Shooting Spree in Austin, Leaving Four Dead and Three Injured

Accident – death – Obituary News : Two individuals found dead in their residence in East Bexar County have been identified as 55-year-old Phyllis James and 56-year-old Shane James Sr. Shockingly, their own son, 34-year-old Shane James Jr., has been accused of the brutal killings. In a horrifying turn of events, after allegedly murdering his parents, James Jr. embarked on a harrowing journey, driving more than 80 miles to Austin. Once in Austin, the suspect is believed to have continued his killing spree, claiming the lives of four more people and injuring three others, including an Austin police officer, an Austin ISD School District Officer, and a cyclist. James Jr. is currently in custody in Austin and has been charged with Capitol Murder of Multiple Persons in Travis County. Charges in Bexar County are still pending.

Authorities are working tirelessly to determine the motive behind the shooting rampage in Austin. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar stated on Wednesday afternoon that it remains unclear why James Jr. chose his victims. “I don’t know that there was any rhyme or reason to how he selected his victims at all,” Salazar said. “Nothing that we’ve been made aware of.” The suspect was apprehended following a police chase in Southwest Austin on Tuesday evening and is now facing charges of capital murder. Salazar mentioned that investigators are currently piecing together the origin of the weapon used in the crimes. “We’re assuming it came from within the house, but beyond that, I don’t know much about the weapon he was caught with. What I can tell you at this point is that I believe the shell casings we found in the home match at least some of the shell casings found in Austin,” Salazar disclosed. “But beyond that, I don’t know if they match the gun he was caught with or how many guns he was caught with.”

The residence of the victims, Phyllis James and Shane James Sr., located on Port Royal Street in East Bexar County, was visited by deputies in the past for mental health-related calls. Furthermore, it was revealed that James Jr. had previous charges and active warrants for assault and bodily injury. The Texas Organizing Project, responsible for bailing out James Jr. in February 2022 through its justice program, expressed devastation in a statement released following the news of the shooting spree. “The events that have unfolded are devastating, and we recognize the pain and suffering this incident has caused,” the statement read. “We take our responsibilities seriously and acknowledge that we must address both the immediate impact of this tragedy and the broader implications for our bail program. We understand that some may try to use this tragedy to criticize bail programs, even for misdemeanors. We remain steadfast in our commitment to our mission, advocating for the rights and representation of all Texans. Additionally, we are acutely aware of the urgent need to address gun violence as an endemic issue in Texas and across the United States. We can’t ignore the larger context in which incidents like these occur.”

It was also revealed that James had been dishonorably discharged from the military in 2015 due to a domestic violence incident. Shockingly, a study conducted by the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence indicated that over two-thirds of mass shootings are either domestic violence incidents or are carried out by individuals with a history of domestic violence. The prevalence of such incidents underscores the urgent need to address gun violence in a comprehensive manner.

As the investigation unfolds, authorities will continue to seek answers regarding the motive for this tragic series of events. The community remains shocked and in mourning as they grapple with the loss of six innocent lives and the injuries inflicted upon others..