TYLER, Texas — A man accused of fatally shooting a Tyler business owner last week could not give a consistent story about what led him to pull out his gun during a physical fight, arrest documents show.
Scott "Scottie" Lee Goble, 54, of Frost, is charged with murder in connection with the death of Heriberto "Eddie" Ramirez, 38, of Tyler, in the parking lot of Junior's Taqueria, located at 3815 S SW Loop 323, on Friday, Oct. 11. Goble bonded out of jail Saturday after he was given a $500,000 bond.
Police say the shooting happened after an argument started between the employees and Goble.
According to an arrest affidavit, Goble came to the restaurant with his sons and infant daughter, who was in a car seat, and an argument began with Goble and the workers. The verbal fight caused the workers to ask the Goble family to leave. Police said a fight broke out in the parking lot and Goble took out a pistol from his waistband. He shot Ramirez, placed the gun in his vehicle and waited for officers to arrive.
A witness told police that the older man in the group, who was identified as Goble, didn't seem to want to leave when employees told him to, despite his sons urging him to go. Goble continued yelling at the employees, the affidavit read. The witness told police they saw Goble set the car seat down on the sidewalk outside the door and he continued to argue just before the fight.
The witness reported Goble had been knocked down to the ground and he was about 10 feet from Ramirez when Goble drew his gun and shot him. The witness also said that no one was actively fighting when the gun was drawn, the document read.
In an interview, Goble told investigators that after placing his order, Goble argued with two employees about the drinks that his family. One of the cooks suggested giving Goble his money back, but Goble decided to leave as he hadn't paid for the food yet, according to the affidavit.
Goble said that as he and his sons were leaving, one of the cooks started punching one of his sons in the face. Goble also claimed that a cook punched him while he was holding the baby in the car seat and Goble fell to the ground. At that point, Goble claimed the cook tried to take the baby, which Goble said prompted him to take out his pistol. He claimed he shot Ramirez out of fear for himself and the baby, the affidavit stated.
One of his sons told police that he slammed the door as they left and that's when a worker started punching him in the face. The son claimed that Goble and his brother tried to intervene, but the employee started punching them as well. The son said he tried to find a gun in their car when the fight started, but he couldn't find one. That same son said he saw Goble on the ground near the car and that's when Goble shot his gun. This son said employees came out yelling and pushing the Gobles after the shooting, the document explained.
In a police interview, the other son said he went to the car after the argument broke over the restaurant order. This son saw Goble and his brother exit the restaurant and employees following after them. He also reported an employee punching his brother in the face. The son said he broke up the altercation and he back to the car to call 911, the affidavit said.
The son said when he grabbed his phone, he saw Goble on the ground pulling out his gun while Ramirez was about six feet away from Goble. After the shooting, the son called 911 saying that his dad shot someone, according to the document.
After interviews with his sons, police questioned Goble about inconsistencies with his recollection of events. Goble maintained that he was afraid for the safety of the baby, his sons and himself. Regarding the claim Goble made about him holding the car seat when he was knocked down, Goble changed his story and couldn't explain why the seat would be on the ground near the door when Goble shot Ramirez, the document read.
Ramirez was too far away from Goble at that point to grab Goble or the car seat, police said in the affidavit. Police said that Goble's answers became less consistent and he could provide a "clear narrative" about what happened.