Judge sets bail for suspect in teenager's murder at $600,000

Jefferson County — A judge has set bail for a suspect accused of murdering a Groves teenager at $600,000.

Judge Richard Hughes set bail Thursday morning during an arraignment for 19-year-old Vonzelle Hall of Port Arthur at the Jefferson County Jail.

He is accused of murdering 18-year-old Jesus Garcia of Port Arthur during a shooting early Saturday morning at the Beverly Place Apartments in Groves.

Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Sr. says he will impose additional conditions requiring Hall to wear an ankle monitor and remain in Jefferson County if he can raise the bail required for his release from jail.

Hall turned himself in to the Groves Police Station on Wednesday afternoon.

6-Shooter LD Ray was there to record our exclusive video.

Acting city marshal Christopher Robin told KFDM/Fox 4 News that thanks to hard police work, surveillance video and witness testimony, investigators were able to identify Hall as the shooter. He said police worked around the clock, all weekend and into this week, until the arrest.

KFDM/Fox 4 News has obtained the probable cause affidavit for Hall's arrest.

In the affidavit, a Groves Police detective describes responding to the shooting just before 2 a.m. on Saturday, August 10. Dispatch told officers that several people had left the scene at the Beverly Place Apartments, 5307 Gulfway Drive, and that a man was lying on the ground. Officers found Jesus Garcia with at least one gunshot wound to his upper body. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he died.

Police obtained surveillance video from a nearby apartment that shows several men standing in the parking lot, at least three of whom are holding what appear to be firearms.

“One of the offenders, a black male wearing a camouflage hoodie and hat, is standing next to Garcia, who is also armed with a firearm,” the Groves officer states in the affidavit. “Based on their demeanor, they appear to be friends and no altercations are observed between them. Garcia is seen with the firearm in his waistband as the man in camouflage distracts Garcia's attention and then abruptly puts a gun to Garcia's head. Garcia then immediately ducks away and attempts to flee as the man in camouflage fires several shots at Garcia. Garcia is then seen collapsing in the parking lot a short distance away. The affidavit was able to locate additional surveillance video showing the shooting, but with more detailed video of the events. Using this surveillance video, Groves Police posted images of the suspect on social media.”

The investigator says that after the surveillance video was released, the department received information identifying Hall as the shooter. Based on that information, police obtained a warrant for Hall's arrest on murder charges.

Hall turned himself in to the Groves Police Department late Wednesday afternoon. He spent a short time there before Groves Interim City Marshal Robin and other officers escorted him to a waiting patrol unit for the ride to jail.