Jayce Cooper is an eighteen year old from Texas who has been charged with the murder of sixteen year old Gavin Fortenberry
According to police reports Jayce Cooper, Jayden Villa-McMarion (photo down right),23, Rolando Perez (photo down left), 17 and an unnamed sixteen year old were involved in a shooting that would leave Gavin Fortenberry dead. Police believe the four males had gone to Gavin Fortenberry home in order to purchase drugs however their plan was to rob him.
A skirmish would break out with Gavin and Jayce fight over the drugs when Gavin would pull out a gun of his own. What followed would leave Gavin Fortenberry dead and Jayce Cooper critically injured. Jayce Cooper would be dropped off at the hospital by Jayden Villa-McMarion, Rolando Perez and the unnamed juvenile where doctors would be able to save him.
All four suspects have been charged with capital murder. Even though only two people went to Gavin Fortenberry door all four can be charged with the murder under Texas law dubbed Law Of Party
Jayce Cooper News
Four people now face capital murder charges after a teen was shot and killed on Feb. 19 at his home on Saengerhalle Road.
Police made two additional arrests Wednesday in connection with the double shooting last week in New Braunfels that left one teen dead and sent another to an area hospital.
Following the Feb. 19 shooting, police tried to save wounded 16-year-old Gavin Fortenberry at his home on Saengerhalle Road, but he died at the scene, authorities said. About the same time, officers learned an 18-year-old man arrived at Resolute Hospital in New Braunfels with a gunshot wound, authorities said. Police charged 18-year-old Jayce Cooper and a 16-year-old boy with capital murder and said at the time that additional arrests and charges were possible.
They made two more arrests Wednesday, taking 23-year-old Jayden Villa-McMarion of Converse and 17-year-old Rolando Perez of New Braunfels to the Guadalupe County Jail, both facing a capital murder charge, according to authorities.
Surveillance cameras at the home captured the shooting, which was the result of a drug deal gone wrong, according to arrest affidavits.
The four suspects arrived at Fortenberry’s home under the pretense of purchasing marijuana from him but with the intent of robbing him, the document states. After Fortenberry handed over a bag of the drug, Jayce Cooper struggled with him leading to the other 16-year-old pulling out a handgun, the affidavit reads.
Fortenberry pulled out his own handgun and the two 16-year-olds exchanged gunfire, an affidavit states. Cooper pulled out a handgun and exchanged fire with Fortenberry, both wounding the other, the affidavit states.
“The footage further shows Jayce Cooper standing over Fortenberry after he had fallen onto his back and firing multiple additional rounds into his torso,” affidavit states. “The suspects then fled the scene in the same vehicle.”
Villa-McMarion is alleged to have driven away from the home with Cooper, Perez and the unnamed 16-year-old suspect as passengers, according to court documents. He took them to Resolute Hospital in New Braunfels, where Cooper received treatment and Villa-McMarion ordered the others out of his vehicle, an affidavit states.
Though only two of the four went inside the home and fired weapons, all four can be held responsible for the 16-year-old’s murder, according to a written statement the city of New Braunfels released Thursday.
“Under Texas law, a person can be charged as a ‘party to the offense’ if they assist, encourage or participate in the commission of a crime, even if they did not personally commit the act that caused the death,” the statement said. “Based on the evidence gathered, investigators determined both individuals played an active role in the events that led to this homicide.”
The shooting took place about 5:40 p.m. Feb. 19 in the 700 block of Saengerhalle Road within the New Braunfels city limits and in Guadalupe County. That’s where neighbors reported hearing shots fired inside the home.
Officers got to the area and questioned witnesses who pointed them to the home where the gun fire happened, according to an affidavit.
“Officers entered the residence and found a 16-year-old victim with multiple gunshot wounds lying dead on the living room floor,” the document states.
Cameras mounted outside the front door and inside the living room provided investigators video evidence of what took place, the affidavit states.
Villa-McMarion and Perez remained held Thursday each under a $250,000 bond at the Guadalupe County Jail, according to online jail records.
Jayce Cooper remained in custody Thursday at University Hospital in San Antonio, where he was transferred the day of the shooting in critical condition, the city of New Braunfels said in its statement. The 16-year-old remained held Thursday at the Guadalupe Juvenile Detention Center, the statement read.
“At this time, a total of four individuals have been arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with this case,” the statement read. “This incident remains part of an ongoing investigation and additional arrests and/or charges may be pending. If you have any information, you’re encouraged to contact the New Braunfels Police Department at 830-221-4100.
