Kickapoo Casino Double-Murder Suspect Gets Trial Date After Deadly Shooting Rampage

Key Points

  • Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty, although a capital murder conviction would carry mandatory life imprisonment without parole
  • The victims were a mother of five and a retired Customs and Border Protection officer, while five others survived
  • Investigators tracked Jones' pickup using license plate recognition technology before arresting him following a pursuit in southwest Texas

A Texas man accused of opening fire outside a crowded casino, killing a mother of five and a retired Border Patrol officer, will stand trial in February 2027, almost 17 months after the deadly attack.

Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino, Keryan Rashad Jones, Texas casino shooting, Eagle Pass casino murders, capital murder trial
Keryan Rashad Jones, 35, above, is accused of killing two people and wounding five others outside Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in September 2025. (Image: Wilson County Sheriff’s Office)

Keryan Rashad Jones, 35, of San Antonio, is scheduled to face trial on February 8 in Maverick County, according to court records obtained by the San Antonio Express-News.

Jones is charged with capital murder of multiple persons, murder, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following the September 27, 2025, shooting at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Seven people were shot during the attack, two fatally. Jones has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody on $5.1 million bail.

Night of Terror

The casino, owned by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, was particularly busy that Saturday night because of a promotional raffle offering a Mercedes-Benz E350 and cash prizes.

Shortly before midnight, gunfire erupted near a crosswalk outside one of the casino’s entrances, sending terrified patrons scrambling for cover.

Witnesses described people diving beneath tables and fleeing toward exits as the shooting unfolded.

The two people killed were Alicia “Daniela” Sanchez, 32, a mother of five from Carrizo Springs, and Marcus “Mark” Antley, 66, a retired U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer.

Sanchez had been heading to her car with her longtime partner after an evening of gambling. Her mother later told the Express-News that Sanchez had simply been trying to get home to her children.

Antley was a well-known figure in Eagle Pass, remembered by local officials for his generosity, leadership, and years of public service.

Five other people were wounded and transported to hospitals in Eagle Pass and San Antonio.

Suspect Fled Casino

Investigators allege Jones fled in a black Nissan Frontier pickup, triggering a multiagency manhunt across southwest Texas.

Authorities used license plate recognition technology to track the vehicle before Texas Department of Public Safety troopers intercepted it in Wilson County the following morning.

Jones was arrested following a pursuit during which officers disabled his vehicle and subdued him with a Taser.

The former National Guardsman was subsequently extradited to Maverick County to face prosecution.

Psych Exam Conducted

In January, Jones pleaded not guilty during an arraignment conducted by video link. His attorney requested psychological evaluations to establish whether he was competent to stand trial and whether he had been legally insane at the time of the shooting.

In May, 293rd District Court Judge Maribel Flores ruled that Jones was competent to stand trial following a psychological examination. The judge also ordered a separate evaluation of his sanity at the time of the alleged offenses.

Although Jones faces a capital murder charge, prosecutors have said they will not seek the death penalty. Under Texas law, a conviction for capital murder would therefore carry a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without parole.

The casino reopened six days after the shooting with heightened security, subsequently installing a concrete barrier near the entrance where the attack occurred, along with additional guard stations and armed patrols.

Authorities have not publicly established a motive for the shooting.

Philip Conneller
Philip Conneller Senior Reporter

In Philip Conneller’s eight years with Casino.org, he has covered the gaming industry from Las Vegas to Macau and everything in between. He currently focuses his coverage on gaming law, white-collar crime, global money laundering, tribal gaming, politics, and regulation.

Philip was the original features editor for poker’s Bluff Magazine and editor for Bluff Europe, which he helped launch. His writing has also been featured in ESPN, Forbes, Time Out, The Sun, and The Daily Star, as well as iGaming Business, eGaming Review, and numerous other industry news and tech websites.

His news stories for Casino.org/news have been linked by The Washington Post, The Daily Mail, People Magazine, and Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show, among many others.

Philip once won $20,000 with 7-2 off-suit. He has been reprimanded for unwittingly playing Elton John’s piano on two separate occasions on both sides of the Atlantic.

He became a writer because he is a lousy pianist.

Philip lives outside London with his wife and children, where he spends his time agonizing about Arsenal FC.

Contact Philip at philip.conneller@casino.org.

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