Brandon Gonzales Charged With Capital Murder In Greenville Party Shooting

GREENVILLE, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - Hunt County authorities have arrested and charged a man in the capital murder of two people at a party Saturday night.

Brandon Gonzales, 23, is charged with capital murder of multiple persons and his bond is set at $1,000,000.

Gonzales was arrested at a local car dealership where he worked as a mechanic.

There is no word on a motive, but Sheriff Randy Meeks said it appears Gonzales acted alone.

Sheriff Meeks said multiple tips helped lead investigators to the identity of the alleged shooter.

"We have visited with him.  He has cooperated some, but not a whole lot," Sheriff Meeks said at a Monday afternoon news conference.

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"In my opinion, I believe we have an innocent man sitting in there for no reason," said the suspect's brother Gabriel Gonzales. "I've got so many people who are coming forward that was with him that night of the party and they know he didn't do that."

Gonzales admitted to investigators he was at the party, but friends who were there with him also said there's no way he's responsible for the shooting.

"I absolutely know it wasn't Brandon," said Zachary Bowen. "He didn't have any weapon on him, he didn't come to the party with a weapon on him. We got searched at the door. When we paid the skip line, we got patted all the way down."

The shooting happened at The Party Venue on Highway 380 just outside of Greenville.

Of the 12 people injured, six were shot -- four critically injured -- and the other six were hurt running for their lives.

There were approximately 750 people at the party that coincided with homecoming week at Texas A&M University-Commerce, though the function was not a school sanctioned event.

According to deputies, it was around 11:30 p.m. when the shooter slipped in the back of the building and started firing a hand gun.

Investigators believe the shooter had an intended victim, but the rest of the people hit were random.

There were no surveillance cameras at the location.

"We kept pushing and pushing until we got one tip that led to another, that led to another, and we were able to come up with the identity of the shooter," Sheriff Meeks said.

Kevin Berry, Jr. of Dallas and Byron Craven, Jr. of Arlington, both 23, were the two men killed at the party.

Texas A&M-Commerce confirms four of the people injured were students who were treated and released.

Texas A&M University-Commerce is about 60 miles northeast of Dallas.

Sheriff Meeks said his department is still following up leads and looking for more evidence.

Erin Jones contributed to this report.