Texas jury hears opening arguments in six-count murder trial for Shane James
Prosecutors claim the defendant acted with full knowledge of his actions, while defense attorneys argue he was controlled by delusions of laser masters.
By Thomas Schneider ·
A jury in Austin began hearing evidence on October 29 in the trial of Shane James, Jr., who faces charges of killing six people and injuring three others during a shooting spree that began in San Antonio in December 2023. The proceedings focus on the first day of testimony, where both sides presented their initial narratives to the court.
Prosecutor Rickey Jones told jurors that James understood the nature of his actions throughout the incident. Jones stated that an expert witness would testify that James was sane when he killed four people in Austin. The prosecution plans to call 35 witnesses during the trial to support this account.
Defense attorney Michael Watson offered a different explanation for James' behavior. Watson described James as a philosophy graduate and Army veteran who developed schizophrenia over time. The defense pointed to journal entries that James wrote, which described delusions involving entities called laser masters controlling his thoughts. Watson argued that these delusions prevented James from distinguishing right from wrong.
The first witness called in the morning was Sgt. Val Barnes of the Austin Independent School District. Barnes was shot in the leg while driving away after spotting James. He told the jury that the impact shattered the safety glass, which cut his face and caused him to bleed.
Other early testimony came from a student at Northeast Early College High School who saw James and heard gunshots. Two forensic specialists examined shell casings and bullet holes found in an AISD vehicle. An officer who searched for a Nissan Versa, the car James initially drove, also provided testimony.
Witnesses from the Shadywood scene included a land surveyor, a midwife performing a home visit nearby, and a responding officer. Body camera footage from that officer showed two victims covered in blood. James was found incompetent to stand trial in 2024 and sent to a state mental hospital. His competency was restored in 2025, allowing the trial to proceed.
Source: KTBC
