Warrant issued in Uptown Square murder

San Marcos Police on Saturday secured a murder warrant in connection with the shooting at Uptown Square Friday night. It was the city’s third homicide of the year and the second incident of gun violence at the student housing complex in a week’s time.

The warrant names Andrew Stephen Jones, 23, of San Marcos, who police say fatally shot 21-year-old Nicholas Devone White, of Manvel, during what they say may have involved a drug deal.

Police responded to multiple calls of shots fired in a parking lot at the complex at 6:37 p.m. Officers “were able to administer first aid and apply several tourniquets to the victim,” the city said in a Saturday morning press release. EMS transported White to Seton Hays Medical Center in Kyle, where he died as a result of his injuries. Justice of the Peace Maggie Moreno ordered an autopsy to be performed by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Witnesses were able to provide a physical description of the shooter and that he left in a silver SUV.

“Detectives and crime scene investigators began processing the large scene and located numerous witnesses,” the city said. “One witness stated that he was meeting the shooting victim a the apartment complex to buy drugs. While at the complex, the victim and witness were confronted by the above described subject who produced a handgun and shot the victim.”

Witnesses also helped fill in the blanks regarding the shooter, as did security video of the area. Once Jones was developed as a suspect. Police set up surveillance at his residence at The Point Apartments on Comanche Street. They also found and impounded the silver SUV. “Several roommates were located away from the apartment and interviewed,” the city’s press release said.

At 5:36 a.m. Saturday, the San Marcos Hays County SWAT team “utilized explosive breaches” to serve a search and arrest warrant. The city said nearby residents were notified prior to the operation and safely evacuated.

Anyone with any information as to the whereabouts of Jones is urged to call 911, or (during working hours) Det. Patrick Aubrey, 512-753-2306.

The city’s first two homicides of 2019 occurred in February. On Feb. 13, Aaron Peterman was shot and killed in his apartment in the 1600 block of Aquarena Springs Drive. Four days later, Brihana Ladrum was shot and killed by Adrian Diaz in the 1200 block of Hilltop Drive. Diaz then drove to a secluded area and killed himself.

On Saturday, March 30, police responded to Uptown Square at 12:54 a.m. for reports of a man with a gun. A victim told officers a man at a party had punched him and then pulled a gun on him. The suspect, later identified as Keyshauna Maurice Brown, 19, pulled the trigger, the victim said, but the gun malfunctioned.

Police arrested Brown on April 3. He remains behind bars on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a bond of $100,000.