2016-01-06 Cooper

Here is a comprehensive write-up combining all the information:

Murder of Zachary Scott Cooper – McDonald's Parking Lot Homicide

Zachary Scott Cooper, 28, of Canadian, Texas, was found shot dead in his vehicle in the parking lot of a McDonald's restaurant at 1815 S. Grand St. in Amarillo on Wednesday, January 6, 2016. Three individuals were later indicted on charges of aggravated robbery and murder in connection with Cooper's death.^[1]

Incident

According to APD, officers were sent to the McDonald's at 1815 S. Grand St. on a welfare check around 8:30 p.m. on January 6. The caller told officers there was a male in a white Hyundai who appeared unresponsive.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found the vehicle in the parking lot of the McDonald's and found a white male slumped over in his seat, deceased. The scene was secured by field officers, and the APD Special Crimes Unit was notified.

Investigation determined the victim, who was later identified as 28-year-old Zachary Scott Cooper from Canadian, Texas, had suffered a gunshot wound to the torso.

Potter County Justice of the Peace Gary Jackson ordered an autopsy, which was scheduled for Thursday. Preliminary autopsy results indicated that Cooper died from a gunshot wound to the torso, and his death was officially ruled as a homicide.

Investigation and Surveillance Video

Further investigation revealed that a white or Hispanic male and the victim had driven to the Walmart right next to the McDonald's at 3700 I-40 East. The other male apparently got out of the Hyundai and went inside the store while the victim stayed in the parked vehicle.

Police believe two suspects exited the car after Cooper was shot and fled the scene in this vehicle.

Just a few minutes after that, police said a different subject came to the passenger's side of the vehicle and talked to Cooper through a window. That subject later got into the vehicle, and Cooper started to leave the parking lot. At some point during this, another person got into the Hyundai before it got to the McDonald's parking lot.

According to police, the victim was shot while sitting in the vehicle, and two subjects were seen getting out of the Hyundai and getting into another vehicle driven by a third subject. That vehicle, which was a two-door sports coupe that may have been gray, then left the area.^[2]

Video evidence showed two men exit Cooper's vehicle and enter another vehicle driven by a third person and drive off.

"They're conversing through the passenger side window as it's rolled down," APD Corporal Jerry Neufeld told NewsChannel 10. "They're just talking a little bit. He ends up getting in there in that vehicle. That vehicle starts leaving and before it gets back over to the McDonald's, a third person gets back into that vehicle. Whether it's the one that was inside on the phone who had initially got out of it, we don't know."^[3]

Neufeld added: "We know the one that had gotten out, that was on the phone was in the vehicle with our victim prior to his death, so we're trying to get him identified to find out what information he has... who else was out there, you know, if they're friends, anything like that. I think once we can get that person identified, that will definitely help us start putting the pieces together."

APD said it was not often they had surveillance video in an investigation like this, and they said it would be a crucial part of piecing the case together.

Arrests

Michael Alan Moore, 33, was arrested on Friday, January 8, 2016, on a murder warrant. Moore was also charged with fraudulent possession of identifying information. Police identified Moore as the man seen in the Walmart surveillance video.

James Michael Propsom, 29, was arrested on Thursday, January 7, 2016, on a charge of tampering and fabricating with physical evidence, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of narcotic paraphernalia. He was later also booked on a murder warrant.

Erika Hudson Bautista, 27, was arrested at the Amarillo Police Department on Monday, January 11, 2016, around 6 p.m. She was booked into the Potter County Jail on a murder warrant. Bautista was believed to be driving the "getaway" car after Cooper was shot and killed.^[4]

All three were booked into the Potter County Correction Center.^[5]

Indictments and Confession

Three people were indicted regarding the murder of 28-year-old Zachary Cooper, who was found dead in his vehicle in East Amarillo.^[6]

According to court documents, Erika Bautista, James Propsom, and Michael Moore were all indicted on February 10, 2016, on the charges of Aggravated Robbery and the Murder of Cooper.

One of the three defendants indicted on murder charges in the homicide admitted on record that he did it along with his female accomplice, according to court documents.

According to Moore's complaint, he admitted in a recorded oral statement to Sgt. Michael Dunn of the Amarillo police that he committed the murder along with Bautista.

Criminal History

The documents further state that all three of the defendants have previous convictions for other crimes committed in the past:

• Erika Bautista: Convicted of Hindering Apprehension in 2006
• Michael Moore: Convicted of Felony Robbery in 2004
• James Propsom: Convicted of Evading Arrest with a Vehicle with a previous conviction in 2007, as well as Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a felon in 2013

Defense Response

Moore's defense attorney, Dianna McCoy, urged the public not to jump to conclusions.

"I hope that the public doesn't make up their mind prior to knowing all the facts and hearing the actual case and evidence presented in court," McCoy said. "Because of the nature of this type of case, it is a lengthy process. A couple years is not unusual."

McCoy has yet to see the evidence in the case because it is said to be quite a large electronic file.^[7]

"It's so voluminous that I haven't been able to download it yet. My guess would be there are several thousand photos," McCoy said.

The three defendants might be waiting a while for their day in court as James Wooldridge, the defense attorney for Propsom, has also said that around 3,300 electronic documents and evidence were shared with them.

"The state has firmly attempted to disclose the case, but they have some horrible system that they have attempted to give the electronic discovery (documents) through," Wooldridge said. "Potter County brought this TechShare system that is a technological nightmare."

Case Timeline

• January 6, 2016 (Wednesday): Cooper found dead around 8:30 p.m. at McDonald's parking lot
• January 7, 2016 (Thursday): Autopsy scheduled; Propsom arrested
• January 8, 2016 (Friday): Moore arrested
• January 11, 2016 (Monday): Bautista arrested at Amarillo Police Department
• February 10, 2016: All three indicted on aggravated robbery and murder charges

Images

Police believe two suspects exited the car after Cooper was shot and fled the scene in this vehicle.