- Suspect pleads not guilty in Kickapoo Lucky Eagle shooting.
- Judge orders competency exam; sanity evaluation hearing set Feb. 2.
- Two killed, five injured; motive still unclear, officials say.
The suspect in the fatal shooting of two people at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in southwest Texas pleaded not guilty Wednesday to multiple charges, including capital murder of multiple persons and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Keryan Rashad Jones, 34, is accused of opening fire outside the tribal casino near the U.S.-Mexico border around 11:45 p.m. local time on September 27. The venue was crowded that night for a promotional raffle that included a Mercedes-Benz E350 and cash prizes.
Shooting at Random
Witnesses described chaos as the gunfire sparked panic, with people hiding under tables and rushing toward exits. Among those killed were Marcus “Mark” Antley, a retired U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent and well-known community member in Eagle Pass, and Alicia “Daniela” Sanchez, a 32-year-old mother of five from Carrizo Springs.
Antley was remembered by local officials for his generosity, leadership and long career in public service, according to The San Antonio Express-News. Sanchez was reportedly heading to her car with her partner when the shooting occurred, and family members said she was trying to make it home to her children.
At least five other people were wounded and taken to hospitals in Eagle Pass and San Antonio following the attack.
Authorities said Jones fled the scene in a black Nissan Frontier pickup, triggering a multiagency search that spanned nearly 200 miles. He was arrested the next day in Wilson County after a vehicle pursuit and was subdued with a Taser before being taken into custody.
Suicide Watch
Jones, a former National Guardsman from San Antonio, was later extradited to Maverick County and appeared via Zoom Wednesday for his arraignment. His attorney asked the court to order evaluations for competency to stand trial and, later, whether he was legally insane at the time of the shooting.
The judge granted the competency evaluation and scheduled a hearing for February 2 to consider a potential sanity evaluation.
Jones’ bond was increased to $5.1 million from $4.5 million ahead of the hearing due to newly filed charges. He has been on suicide watch since his arrest, according to his attorney.
The Lucky Eagle Casino reopened less than a week after the shooting. Tribal officials said security has been strengthened, including the installation of a concrete barrier wall at the primary entrance where the shooting occurred.
The motive for the attack remains unclear.
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