A man accused of firing into another driver’s car during a morning commute reportedly did not stop after the shooting. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by FOX 4, he exited Interstate 20 and continued driving to his workplace in Justin, Texas.
Fort Worth Police arrested 37-year-old Patrick Lawrence and charged him with murder in the death of LaTaivia Davis. The shooting happened shortly before 6:40 a.m. on Aug. 13 along eastbound I-20 near Granbury Road in Fort Worth.
Davis worked as a teacher’s aide at E. Ray Elementary School. Investigators said a witness’s dashcam recorded the encounter and helped them identify the blue Volkswagen allegedly involved.
Fort Worth Police announced Lawrence’s arrest later that day. A FOX 4 report shared the next afternoon revealed what Lawrence allegedly told investigators and how police tracked him to work.
The Suspect Reportedly Continued His Commute To Work
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The FOX 4 report explains how information from the arrest affidavit changed the understanding of what happened after the shooting.
Police found him at his workplace in Justin, more than 30 miles from where Davis was shot. Officers reportedly detained him as he approached his vehicle during his lunch break.
A Witness’ Dashcam Helped Police Identify the Vehicle
Witnesses told police they heard a loud bang before seeing a blue vehicle with its window down exit I-20 toward Granbury Road. Davis was found inside her red vehicle, which had a bullet hole in its front passenger window. Police recruits searched the interstate and recovered one shell casing near the area where the shooting occurred.
According to the affidavit, video from a witness’s dashcam helped investigators identify Lawrence as the owner of the blue Volkswagen. Officers also noticed a handgun in the driver’s side door pocket of his vehicle when they detained him. Investigators said the handgun matched the shell casing recovered from I-20.
Lawrence Allegedly Admitted Firing One Shot
Lawrence told investigators he was driving to work when Davis’s red sedan began tailgating him, according to the affidavit. He claimed the sedan then moved left and crossed the white on-ramp markings as it entered the highway.
He also told police he could not see who was inside because the vehicle had tinted windows. Lawrence allegedly admitted firing one shot into the front passenger window as the sedan passed him. The affidavit states that Lawrence immediately exited the highway and continued driving to work.
Davis Worked for Everman Isd
Davis was a teacher’s aide at E. Ray Elementary School in Everman Independent School District. The district said it was deeply saddened by the loss of a valued staff member and would provide counseling and support resources to students and employees.
Fort Worth Police said several divisions worked together to identify and arrest Lawrence on the same day as the shooting. Lawrence has been charged with murder, but the criminal case remains pending at this time.