Police in Austin, Texas, announced the arrest of three more individuals suspected of killing an Infowars employee who accosted them as they tried to steal his vehicle in March.
Rodney Charles Hill, 17, was arrested Tuesday in connection with the fatal shooting of Jamie White, Detective Jason Jones, lead investigator in the murder case for the Austin Police Department (APD), told reporters Thursday. Two 15-year-old males, who, being under 17 years old, were not named, were arrested May 5 and May 20. The first suspect to be arrested was Eloy Camarillo, 17, on April 30, Jones said. Suspects aged 17 would be tried as adults under Texas law, according to Jones.
White was found shot around his residence at about 11:56 p.m., March 9, and was pronounced dead at about 12:19 p.m., March 10, from a gunshot wound to the head, Jones said.
The police said they found surveillance video evidence that suggested White had a bat and confronted the murder suspects, who had arrived in a black Kia Soul, as they tried to steal his vehicle, also a Kia Soul. (RELATED: These Car Brands Are Being Targeted As Motor Vehicle Theft Soars)
Hill then shot White, KXAN reported, citing an arrest affidavit from authorities. Investigators reportedly found an expandable baton and a “single spent 9mm cartridge case.”
Investigators also said they found audio recordings on Hill’s phone putatively of Hill rapping about White’s death, with lyrics such as “White boy came outside/Hit his damn ass with a 9.”
The suspects had driven the stolen silver Kia Soul to the apartment complex from which they stole the black Kia and then drove to White’s apartment, according to Jones.
The police found the black Kia abandoned March 10, Jones said.
“At this time, we do not believe that Jamie was targeted,” Jones told reporters. “Instead, we believe this is a very unfortunate and tragic series of senseless events involving the four individuals [suspects] who obviously have no value for human life.”
Using location, license plate, and cellphone communication data, the APD identified four suspects, all of whom have now been arrested and charged with capital murder, according to Jones. Under Texas law, all the suspects would be liable of the murder charge as alleged co-conspirators, Jones said.
Suspects burglarizing vehicles and shooting at people who interrupt them was “a very big problem in Austin,” Jones said.
Two boys aged 12 and 13 years old were arrested on suspicion that they had killed a 20-year-old man who had tried to recover his family’s stolen vehicle at about 3:20 a.m. May 3, KXAN separately reported.
“We are trying to do what we can to hold those individuals accountable,” Jones said.
The APD had video evidence of the four suspects in White’s murder also having tried to steal another Kia Soul in a separate incident but a steering wheel lock prevented them and they moved on, according to Jones. “Those steering wheel locks work … that’s a very cheap way to fix this” Jones said, adding that car robbery suspects would always look for the easiest targets.
“I understand when people want to protect their property. What we are seeing is in this city is all these kids are armed. They’re breaking in and stealing guns that people leave in their cars so they are all armed — most of them are armed with stolen weapons and they are not afraid to use them if they need to,” Jones told reporters.
“The way that these things go down is they have people breaking into the car and they’ll have one or two people standing guard, armed, ready to take action if needed. That’s what we’re seeing in all these cases, so, be very cautious … when going out to protect your property,” Jones added.
Jones advised that victims instead should give a detailed report of thefts to the police.
“Your vehicle is not worth your life,” he said.
Jones also offered his condolences to White’s family for “such a senseless and devastating loss.”
“Jamie was a light we were blessed to experience as much as we did. He’s a one-of-a-kind man who poured his devotion in anything he did,” Infowars said March 10.