Published on: January 8, 2026, 06:35h.
Updated on: January 8, 2026, 06:36h.
- Defendant enters not guilty plea in Kickapoo Lucky Eagle shooting incident.
- Judge mandates competency assessment; sanity hearing scheduled for February 2.
- Two victims deceased, five others injured; motive remains ambiguous, say authorities.
The individual accused of a deadly incident at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in southwest Texas pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to various charges, including capital murder of multiple individuals and aggravated assault with a firearm.
Keryan Rashad Jones, aged 34, is alleged to have opened fire outside the tribal casino close to the U.S.-Mexico border around 11:45 p.m. local time on September 27. The venue was bustling that evening due to a promotional raffle featuring a Mercedes-Benz E350 and cash prizes.
Random Act of Violence
Witnesses recounted scenes of turmoil as shots rang out, prompting frantic reactions with patrons scrambling for shelter under tables and rushing towards exits. The deceased included Marcus “Mark” Antley, a retired U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer and prominent local figure in Eagle Pass, along with Alicia “Daniela” Sanchez, a 32-year-old mother of five from Carrizo Springs.
Antley was remembered by community leaders for his philanthropy, leadership, and extensive public service career, as noted by The San Antonio Express-News. Reports indicate that Sanchez was attempting to reach her vehicle with her partner when the gunfire erupted, with family stating she was trying to get home to her children.
At least five other individuals sustained injuries and were subsequently transported to medical facilities in Eagle Pass and San Antonio following the shooting.
According to officials, Jones fled the scene in a black Nissan Frontier pickup, initiating a widespread search that covered nearly 200 miles. He was detained the following day in Wilson County after a vehicle chase and was subdued with a Taser before being taken into custody.
Monitoring for Self-Harm
Jones, a former National Guardsman from San Antonio, was later extradited to Maverick County and appeared via Zoom for his arraignment on Wednesday. His attorney requested that the court order assessments concerning his competency to stand trial and subsequently, whether he was legally insane during the shooting.
The judge authorized the competency assessment and set a hearing for February 2 to discuss a potential sanity evaluation.
Jones’ bail was raised to $5.1 million from $4.5 million in light of newly filed charges. His attorney reported that he has been placed on suicide watch since his arrest.
The Lucky Eagle Casino resumed operations less than a week after the shooting, with tribal officials announcing enhanced security precautions, including the installation of a concrete barrier wall at the main entrance where the incident took place.
The motives behind the attack continue to remain unclear.