A family argument inside a Farmers Branch apartment ended in deadly gunfire Sunday afternoon, leaving a 41-year-old man dead and his 22-year-old nephew charged with murder, according to police.
Officers were called to the area near the 11600 block of Lago Vista West, where they found the uncle with apparent gunshot wounds. He died at the scene. Police say the victim’s mother, who was not hurt, called 911 from the apartment. Investigators allege the suspect left the unit before officers arrived.
Farmers Branch police told reporters the trouble started when the suspect refused to let his mother back into the home, sparking an argument that escalated into a shooting, according to The Dallas Morning News. The department’s release, cited by the paper, says officers received two 911 calls, one from the suspect and one from his mother, and that the suspect, identified by police as Dayvion Murray, was taken into custody after leaving the apartment. As of Wednesday, Murray was being held in the Dallas County jail on a murder charge with bond set at $500,000.
Legal Stakes Under Texas Law
Under Texas law, murder is generally prosecuted under Texas Penal Code §19.02 and is treated as a first-degree felony, punishable by five years to life in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. The offense can be reduced to a second-degree felony at the punishment phase in limited situations, per Justia. That framework means prosecutors could seek a lengthy sentence if Murray is convicted, while the defense may later focus on issues such as intent or possible mitigating circumstances. For now the case remains in the investigative stage and will move through the Dallas County courts.
How Police Say the Shooting Unfolded
Police said the uncle, identified in the department’s release and in reporting as Joel Brown Jr., tried to intervene when the argument intensified and was struck by gunfire, according to The Dallas Morning News. Investigators say Murray, Brown and Murray’s mother all lived in the apartment. Detectives are still gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses, and officials have not released details about the firearm involved or a possible motive…