A heated dispute outside a Texas taqueria ended in tragedy when a father pulled out a gun and killed a co-owner of the restaurant during a fight. Now, the man behind the shooting is headed to prison.
Father Convicted in Taqueria Shooting
Scotty Goble, 54, of Smith County, was convicted Monday of murder in the October 2024 death of 38-year-old Heriberto “Eddie” Ramirez Jr. outside Junior’s Taqueria in Tyler. On Tuesday, a judge sentenced Goble to 18 years behind bars.
Argument Escalates into Violence
According to police, the incident began after Goble argued with restaurant staff about a drink order. When he left with his children — including his 9-month-old daughter in a carrier — one of his sons slammed a door, sparking more conflict. Ramirez and his brother followed the family outside, where a fight broke out in the parking lot.
Prosecutors said Goble set down his baby carrier near the entrance before joining the scuffle. He claimed Ramirez threatened to kill him and his children. Goble then pulled a gun and opened fire, fatally shooting Ramirez.
Family Testimony in Court
During trial, Goble’s son Justin testified that he was struck during the fight and saw his father on the ground being beaten before the shooting. “I was terrified,” he said, adding that he even searched for a gun, fearing his father would be killed.
Jurors deliberated for three hours before finding Goble guilty of second-degree murder, concluding that he acted in “sudden passion.” This reduced his sentencing range to two to 20 years, far less than the life sentence he could have faced under first-degree murder.
Grieving Family Speaks Out
Eddie Ramirez’s wife, Amanda, gave emotional testimony about how she had to break the news to their daughters, ages 6 and 9. “Not daddy! What do you mean?!” the children cried, she recalled.
Amanda later told reporters she felt the 18-year sentence was too light. “I don’t feel like justice was served. That’s not enough,” she said. “Nothing is going to bring my husband back. We have to live the rest of our lives with pain and misery without Eddie.”
What began as a minor argument over a drink order at a family-owned taqueria spiraled into deadly violence, leaving a community in mourning. While the shooter, Scotty Goble, will serve 18 years in prison, Ramirez’s loved ones say no sentence could ever measure up to the loss of a husband, father, and friend.
