Allen police charged a 48-year-old Dallas father with murder after a child custody exchange in a Starbucks parking lot ended in gunfire, killing the mother’s boyfriend and leaving the father wounded.
Police identified the suspect Saturday as Jorge Jairala, 48, of Dallas. Authorities have not publicly identified the man who died.
Custody exchange ends in gunfire
Officers responded at approximately 5:59 p.m. Friday to reports of a shooting at 969 State Highway 121, near North Watters Road. Police placed the confrontation in the shopping center parking lot, not inside the coffee shop.
“The preliminary investigation indicates that the incident occurred during a child custody exchange,” Allen Police Officer Sammy Rippamonti said in a statement released to local media.
Police said the exchange involved Jairala, the children’s father, and their mother’s boyfriend. The two men got into an altercation, and each suffered a gunshot wound.
Emergency personnel transported both men to a hospital. The mother’s boyfriend died from his injuries. Police initially described Jairala’s wound as non-life-threatening and said officers took him into custody without incident.
Allen police later charged Jairala with murder. Authorities have not publicly released an account explaining who fired first, whether both men fired or what evidence led to the charge.
Children escape physical injury
The children were present during the custody exchange but suffered no physical injuries, police said. Authorities did not disclose the number or ages of the children or say whether their mother was present.
Police also have not said whether investigators recovered one or more firearms or whether anyone claimed self-defense. The investigation remains active.
A criminal charge is an allegation. Jairala is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
