A eight-day capital murder trial in Austin came to an end Monday evening when a jury convicted Shane James Jr., 37, of multiple counts after investigators say he shot and killed six people across Bexar and Travis County in 2023.
James was given a life sentence without the possibility parole, according to Travis County court records.
He was found guilty on four counts of capital murder for killing four people in the Austin area. He has not been tried for the murder of his parents in Kirby.
Among the first of many killed were his parents Phyllis James, 55, and Shane James Sr. 56. Both were shot in the head on Dec. 4, 2023, at their home in the Mission Hill community near Kirby, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said at a news conference at the time.
James’ violent spree carried on less than 24 hours later when he also killed four more people in the Travis County area.
Nearly three years after James was arrested, his capital murder trial began last month on Oct. 29 with testimony from multiple witnesses of James’ shootings.
First responders, investigators and forensic specialists, watched video from multiple crime scenes and were shown evidence of the capital murder case.
As testimony continued, jurors heard more evidence about James’ mental state and the defense team’s legal insanity argument.
The jury found James guilty and he will spend the rest of his life inside the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s prison in Huntsville.
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