Sheriff requests independent investigation into deputy-involved shooting of 6-year-old boy

SCHERTZ, Texas – Sheriff Javier Salazar has asked Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood to help conduct an independent investigation into a deputy-involved shooting that claimed the life of a 6-year-old boy.

Kameron Prescott, 6, was hit by a stray bullet on Dec. 21 following a manhunt for a 33-year-old woman wanted in a car theft. The suspect at the center of the manhunt, Amanda Lenee Jones, was also killed in the shooting.

LaHood's office said it will dedicate an assistant district attorney and an investigator to the case. The officials will assist BCSO homicide investigators.

According to BCSO, the additional investigator will help review evidence and witness statements as the case develops.

Four deputies opened fire on Jones at the Pecan Grove Mobile Home Park off FM 78 in Schertz after she allegedly pulled a weapon on deputies. Authorities were unaware Kameron was in the house. 

Authorities released the names of the deputies along with their years of service. The deputies' years of service range from two years to 27 years.

Deputy John Aguillon
Years of service: 27 years, 1 month
 
Deputy George Herrera
Years of service: 16 years, 4 months
 
Deputy Jesse Arias
Years of service: 7 years, 4 months
 
Reserve Deputy Johnny Longoria
Years of service: 2 years, 0 months

Authorities have not found a gun, but did locate a an 8-inch tubular, pipe object underneath a deck where Jones fell. The object had the suspect’s blood and mud on it. 

Authorities were initially called out to a nearby property in the 11200 block of FM 1518 to investigate a car theft. When a deputy arrived at the location to investigate, he found Jones, who had outstanding warrants, trying to hide in a closet.

Jones allegedly threatened the deputy with a weapon and got away. From there, Jones led authorities on a foot chase spanning three-quarters of a mile, also crossing a creek with high waters.

Deputies lost sight of Jones throughout the foot pursuit, but residents of the Pecan Grove Mobile Home Park said Jones tried to break into homes as she evaded deputies.

Rhonda Campbell said Jones kicked in her front door and demanded her car keys.

"She was standing right here, demanding my car keys. Well, it took me almost 30 years to get my dream car. She wasn't about to get it," Campbell said after the shooting. "(She was) desperate, maybe on drugs. That's the opinion I've got."

Less than 10 minutes later, Campbell said she heard gunshots.

According to jail records, Jones had an extensive criminal history with her first charge in Sept. 2006 for possession of a controlled substance in Guadalupe County. Jones was arrested at least 13 additional times in three different counties on separate charges, with her most recent in Feb. 2017 for burglary of a building.

Last week, Salazar said investigators were reviewing body camera and aerial footage from the incident but that it appeared procedures were followed during the shooting and that deputies complied with protocol.

“Right now, what I’m dealing with is a tragic accident that led to the death of this young man,” Salazar said during the press conference. “I can tell you the grandfather of this young man Kameron is a friend of mine for the past 20 years (and) a peace officer.”

Salazar described body camera footage he reviewed that showed the moment deputies found Kameron in the house.

"They physically cleared the house and that is when they found Kameron had been shot," Salazar said in a press conference last week. "They continued to clear the house as one deputy ran outside the house with Kameron. I'll be honest with you, it's pretty heartbreaking video for us to see. You see the deputies administering first aid to the boy almost immediately."

Kameron's family has asked for privacy during this time.