A Texas father is facing murder charges after police say he shot and killed an Amazon delivery driver, allegedly mistaking the young man for his daughter’s boyfriend during a chaotic encounter in the early hours of Christmas Day.
Jonathan Ross Mata, 39, is accused of fatally shooting 25-year-old Desmond Butler around 1 a.m. at a gas station in Bellaire, according to the Houston Police Department. Investigators say the incident was captured on surveillance video, which shows the moments before and during the shooting.
Police say Butler was driving his gray Honda Pilot through the gas station when he passed Mata’s black GMC Acadia parked at the pumps. As Butler drove by, Mata’s wife reportedly jumped out of the SUV, ran after the Honda, and tried to open the driver’s door. Authorities say the couple believed their daughter was inside the vehicle.
At the same time, Mata allegedly exited the SUV and fired multiple shots at Butler’s car.
Butler tried to get away but crashed into a nearby pole moments later. According to police, Mata and his wife then left the scene without calling for help. Paramedics later rushed Butler to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators say the couple went to the gas station after receiving a call from their daughter, who claimed she had been assaulted by her boyfriend and believed she had been dropped off there. When Mata and his wife saw a woman in Butler’s passenger seat, they allegedly assumed it was their daughter.
Police later determined that Butler and Mata did not know each other.
Court records cited by KHOU 11 indicate that Butler’s female passenger told investigators Mata approached the vehicle after the crash, opened the door, and looked inside. She said he told them he was searching for his “kidnapped” daughter, apologized, and said he would call police.
According to investigators, Mata later admitted firing two shots in an attempt to stop the vehicle but claimed he did not realize he had struck Butler. He allegedly told police he did not call 911 because he was scared.
Butler’s family has spoken out about the loss, describing him as a joyful and loving person whose life was cut short far too soon. Originally from Georgia, Butler had moved to Houston in 2023 to work for Amazon and had recently been promoted to a management position.
“We’re keeping each other close and holding on to his memories,” his sister Destiny said.
Mata later turned himself in and was booked into the Harris County Jail. He has since been released on a $50,000 bond as the case proceeds through the courts.
What a moron! He needs to spend his life in prison.