Zavalla, Texas

From the Lufkin Daily News of July 3, 2006

Zavalla teen shoots, kills mother's estranged husband

A 15-year-old Zavalla boy shot and killed his mother's estranged husband Sunday night after the victim allegedly assaulted the woman during an argument inside her home.

Robert Thompson Jr., 30, suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the chest at approximately 8:40 p.m. He was declared dead at the scene.

Zavalla Police Chief Bobby Epperly said he believes the teenager shot his stepfather in self-defense or in defense of a third party. Police are still investigating and are awaiting an autopsy report. No arrests have been made.

Thompson and estranged wife Angie Thompson, 34, had been arguing Sunday evening about a car part of his that she had lent to a friend, according to Epperly. The couple had been separated for about 10 months.

Robert Thompson arrived at her home on 244 Carpenter St. and kicked in the front door, Epperly said. She and her son were inside the house.

Thompson allegedly punched her in the back of the head several times, Epperly said. In defense, her son grabbed a .410-gauge pump shotgun and asked Thompson to stop hitting his mother, Epperly said. The teenager warned Thompson several times, asking him to stop, Epperly said. Thompson allegedly refused.

The teenager, who was standing a few feet away from the victim, fired the gun at Thompson, hitting him in the chest, Epperly said. The boy and his mother ran to a neighbor's house and called 911, Epperly said.

Several law enforcement departments arrived at the scene, including officers from the Zavalla Police Department and deputies from the Angelina County Sheriff's Office.

Justice of the Peace Claude Marshall pronounced Thompson dead at the scene.

Angie Thompson suffered some redness and swelling to her forehead, Epperly said.

The Zavalla Police Department is in the initial stage of its investigation, Epperly said.

From the Lufkin Daily News of August 7, 2006

Zavalla man legally drunk when killed by stepson

Autopsy and toxicology reports have confirmed a Zavalla man died of a shotgun wound to the chest and was legally drunk when his stepson allegedly shot and killed him out of self-defense in early July.

Robert Thompson Jr., 30, died of severe injury to his right lung and his heart after the bullet entered the right side of his upper chest, according to a autopsy report from the Jefferson County Morgue. Thompson had a blood alcohol content of .15, nearly twice the legal limit, when he died, according to a toxicology report from Ameritox in Midland, Texas.

On July 3, Thompson arrived at the home of his estranged wife Angie Thompson on Carpenter Street in Zavalla and kicked in the front door, Zavalla Police Chief Bobby Epperly said.

The two, who had been separated for about 10 months, were arguing about a car part of his that she had loaned to a male friend, Epperly said.

Thompson allegedly punched his estranged wife in the head several times. Her 15-year-old son, who was also inside the house during the argument, picked up a shotgun and asked Thompson to quit hitting his mother, Epperly said.

Thompson allegedly refused, so the teenager shot him with a .410-gauge shotgun, Epperly said.

Justice of the Peace Claude Marshall said he believes the teenager shot Thompson in self-defense.