A tragic case of mistaken identity ended in murder on Christmas Day in Texas, when a father allegedly shot and killed a young Amazon delivery driver, believing him to be his daughter's boyfriend.
Christmas Day Shooting at Bellaire Gas Station
Jonathan Ross Mata, 39, is accused of murdering Desmond Butler, 25, at around 1am on 25 December, according to the Houston Police Department. The incident unfolded at a petrol station in Bellaire, with shocking surveillance footage capturing the moments leading up to the fatal shooting.
Police reports state that Butler was driving his grey Honda Pilot through the station when he passed Mata's black GMC Acadia at the pumps. As Butler drove past, Mata's wife exited their vehicle, chased the Honda, and attempted to open its door. She reportedly believed her daughter was inside the car.
A Tragic Misunderstanding Unfolds
Simultaneously, Mata got out of the SUV and fired shots at Butler's vehicle. Butler attempted to drive away but crashed into a pole. The husband and wife then left the scene. Paramedics from the Houston Fire Department rushed Butler to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Investigators revealed that Mata and his wife had gone to the petrol station after receiving a call from their daughter saying she had been assaulted by her boyfriend and believing she had been dropped off there. A woman was in the passenger seat of Butler's car, and the couple initially thought it was their daughter.
Police have confirmed that the victim and the shooter did not know each other. Court documents indicate that Butler's female passenger testified that after the crash, Mata drove up to the Honda, opened the door, looked inside, and said he was searching for his 'kidnapped' daughter before apologising and saying he would call the police.
Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
According to court documents obtained by KHOU 11, the shooter confessed to firing two shots to stop the Honda but claimed he did not realise he had struck Butler. Mata also stated he did not call 911 because he was 'scared'.
Butler's family have spoken of their devastation, describing him as a 'light of joy'. The 25-year-old had moved from his family home in Georgia to Houston in 2023 to work for Amazon, where he had become a manager. 'We're keeping each other tight and close and keeping his memories alive,' his sister Destiny told the outlet.
Jonathan Ross Mata turned himself in to authorities on Wednesday and was booked into the Harris County Jail. He has since been released on a $50,000 bond.
