Police in Uvalde today charged a 12 year old boy with capital murder in connection with the shooting of a man in the course of a break-in at his home last night, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez says the boy shot and killed John Duane VanMeter, 24.
VanMeter's girlfriend called police and said somebody had broken into her home and shot the man.When police arrived, they rushed VanMater to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Witnesses said they saw somebody dressed all in black and with a bandana over his face running from the crime scene.
As a juvenile, the suspect can't face the death penalty. He has been taken to the juvenile detention center in Jourdanton to await a court appearance.
Police haven't said if the break-in was a robbery attempt, or was done with some other motive.
As a 12 year old, the suspect can't stand trial as an adult. If capital murder, or murder committed during the commission of a crime, is eventually the charge that is formally filed, he would be the second youngest person ever charged with capital murder in Texas. Lacreshia Murray was charged with beating a two year old boy to death in Austin in 1995. Charges against her were later dismissed.