In a shocking crime spree that spanned two counties, Shane James Jr., 34, has been charged with capital murder after allegedly killing six people and injuring three others. The rampage began on December 5th when James allegedly killed his parents, Phyllis and Shane James Sr., at their San Antonio-area home. The bodies were discovered later that day. Authorities are still investigating whether James killed his parents late Monday or on Tuesday.

The first report of the day came in at 10:43 a.m. on Tuesday, when police in Austin were informed that a sergeant with the Austin Independent School District police force had been shot. The injured officer was identified as Sergeant Val Barnes, who sustained a gunshot wound to his leg. The shooting prompted a lockdown at the local high school as authorities searched for the gunman. Barnes expressed relief that none of the students were harmed.

Shortly before noon, police received multiple calls about a double homicide in south Austin. Emmanuel Pop Ba, 32, was found dead at the scene, while Sabrina Rahman, 24, was transported to a hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries. It remains unclear if James had any connection to the victims in Austin.

Later that evening, a report came in about a male bicyclist who had been shot. The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Less than two hours later, a 911 call was made regarding a home burglary on Austral Loop. The caller, a man watching a live feed of his home surveillance system, reported that someone had broken into his residence. Detectives arrived at the scene and encountered James, who fired multiple shots, hitting one of the detectives. James then stole a car from the home and fled the scene.

Inside the burglarized home, authorities discovered the bodies of Katherine Short, 56, and Lauren Short, 30. The man who called 911 identified them as his wife and daughter, the latter of whom had special needs. Both women had suffered gunshot wounds. James was seen on security footage kicking down the back door of the residence while holding an Inland Manufacturing 1911 A1 .45-caliber pistol.

After stealing the car, James led police on a high-speed pursuit, reaching speeds of up to 90 mph. The chase came to an end when James crashed the stolen Acura. Officers apprehended him at the scene and recovered a pistol and handgun magazines from his person. Austin police are now seeking to obtain DNA samples from James in connection with the Austral Loop home invasion.

Newly released court documents reveal that following his arrest, James attempted to escape from the Travis County Jail. While being held in a room, he "pushed past" a corrections officer, but was quickly restrained by deputies. Authorities have emphasized that the jail is a secure facility and that James would not have been able to escape the floor he was on or the building itself.

The motive behind James' crime spree remains unknown, and authorities are continuing their investigation. Questions have been raised about how James was able to remain out of jail despite having an active arrest warrant since early 2022 related to a domestic violence incident. In January of that year, James was arrested for assaulting his parents and sibling at their family home. He was later released on bail through the Texas Organizing Project, a nonprofit organization that assists defendants who cannot afford to post bail.

The Texas Organizing Project has defended its decision to help James, stating that he met their criteria for eligibility and that they focus on assisting with misdemeanor offenses. However, the organization has stated that it will conduct a larger review in light of the recent events. Authorities have acknowledged James' history of mental health issues but claim they were unaware of any accusations against him during his time in the military.

James served as an Army infantry officer from 2013 to 2015, reaching the rank of first lieutenant. He had no deployments during his military service. The Texas Organizing Project's involvement in James' case has prompted scrutiny, as the organization has endorsed progressive elected officials and received support from Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar. Salazar, however, has stated that he does not believe he needs to refund any campaign support and stands by the organization's decision to help James exercise his right to bond.