Murder Charges Filed Against 12-Year-Old in Alleged Killing of Sonic Employee 

A murder charge is facing both a 12-year-old and a 20-year-old following a tragic incident at a Sonic Drive-In in Keene, where a 32-year-old employee, Matthew Davis, was shot and killed during a confrontation with a customer on Saturday night.

12-Year-Old Charged With Murder After Killing Sonic Employee With An Assault Rifle

A makeshift memorial with flowers and a cross has emerged outside the Sonic Drive-In on Old Betsy Road in Keene in memory of Matthew Davis, a father and employee who lost his life in the line of duty. According to Keene Police, the shooting occurred around 9:40 p.m. during an altercation in the parking lot. Angel Gomez, 20, was with several passengers and behaving disorderly when Davis approached him for urinating in the parking lot, as reported by Keene Police Chief James Kidd.

The confrontation escalated into a physical altercation, during which a 12-year-old, who was in Gomez's car, reportedly retrieved an assault rifle and fired six rounds at Davis, striking him multiple times. Despite being airlifted to a nearby hospital, Davis succumbed to his injuries.

After the incident, Gomez and the 12-year-old fled the area, but Gomez later returned to the scene and was apprehended. The police located the 12-year-old in Rio Vista, where he was taken into custody. The minor's identity is being withheld due to legal considerations. Both he and Gomez are now facing murder charges.

The Sonic restaurant remained closed on Monday, with community members visiting to leave flowers in honor of Davis. Jane Baggett, a resident, expressed the community's desire to show support and love during this difficult time. A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to assist Davis's family with funeral expenses and provide support for his 10-year-old son.

In response to the tragedy, a Sonic spokesperson released a statement expressing sadness and noting that the franchisee is fully cooperating with local authorities in their investigation. Keene is located approximately 30 miles south of Fort Worth in Johnson County.

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