SAN ANTONIO – Update (May 5, 2023):
A man has been found guilty of murder after a deadly shooting at a Northwest Side motel in 2021.
The jury deliberated for a half-hour on Friday before reaching a verdict for Douglas Skaggs.
According to court testimony, Skaggs shot and killed Tito Roman at a Home Suites motel in the 4900 block of Northwest Loop 410 on March 17, 2021.
The sentencing phase for Skaggs is scheduled for Monday.
Original:
A man accused in a deadly shooting at a Northwest Side motel in 2021 is now having his day in court.
Douglas Skaggs was arrested and charged with the murder of Tito Roman after Roman was found fatally shot at the Home Suites motel in the 4900 block of Northwest Loop 410 on March 17, 2021.
During their opening statement Wednesday, prosecutors laid out their case that they say all began due to a dispute over stolen property.
Skaggs, at the time, believed a Ford Bronco that Roman had was his, and prosecutors said Skaggs and his girlfriend, Hayley Gibbens, planned to meet up with Roman.
“This plan involved getting Hayley, who also knew Tito, to pretend that her and Doug were on the outs and that they were having an argument and to lure Tito into a hotel,” prosecutor Casey Sandoval said.
Sandoval said that once at the hotel, Gibbens waited outside as Skaggs went inside to talk to Roman, but soon after, gunshots rang out.
A few weeks later, Skaggs and Gibbens were arrested and charged with murder.
The defense waived their opening statements but could go with a self-defense claim.
Hayley Gibbens has taken a plea deal and is expected to testify during the trial. She is expected to be sentenced as early as next week when the trial is over.
Skaggs is facing up to life in prison if found guilty.
Testimony will continue in the 399th District Court Thursday morning.