A Texas man is going to prison for shooting dead a co-owner of a taqueria who confronted him in the parking lot over a slammed door while he was with his 9-month-old daughter and two sons, prosecutors say. The father shot him dead because he felt threatened after a fight broke out.
Scotty Goble, 54, of Smith County, was convicted of murder on Monday for the October 2024 killing of Heriberto “Eddie” Ramirez Jr., 38, at Junior’s Taqueria in Tyler, according to local CBS affiliate KYTX. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Tuesday.
Goble reportedly pleaded not guilty on August 26 and claimed self-defense in his trial last week, with his own son testifying on his behalf.
Police accused Goble of starting an argument over a drink order, which spilled out into the parking lot after one of Goble’s two sons slammed a door as they were leaving after eating tacos for lunch.
Ramirez and his brother, Edgar Ramirez, followed the family outside, and a fight ensued, with Goble alleging that Eddie Ramirez threatened to kill him, his sons, and his daughter, who was in a baby carrier, according to prosecutors.
Goble parked the carrier near the taqueria’s entrance before engaging in combat and opening fire on Ramirez.
His son, Justin Goble, who was allegedly punched during the fight, claimed that his father was lying on the ground and being beaten when he fired.
“I was terrified,” Justin Goble said in court. “This guy [Ramirez] is about twice my size…” To be completely honest, I was searching for a gun. “Just in case they were simply beating him to a pulp.”
According to KYTX, Goble acted in a “sudden passion” and was found guilty of second-degree murder after three hours of deliberation. According to KYTX, his sentencing range was two to twenty years, rather than the five to 99 years to life in prison he was originally facing after being charged with first-degree murder.
Ramirez’s wife, Amanda Ramirez, testified about how his surviving children, including two daughters aged six and nine, reacted after learning what happened.
“Not Daddy!” Amanda Ramirez reports that the girls screamed, “What do you mean?!” “It was the worst thing I’ve had to do in my entire life—to tell my babies their daddy died,” Amanda Ramirez testified. “He did not deserve that. “We did not deserve that.”
When asked by local ABC affiliate KTRE to comment on Goble’s sentence, Amanda Ramirez said, “I don’t believe justice was served.” That isn’t enough.
Even if he had gotten life, it would never have been enough for me. Because nothing will bring my husband back. We must live the rest of our lives in pain and misery without Eddie.”
