The Houston Police Department says 39-year-old Jonathan Ross Mata has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting 25-year-old Amazon driver Desmond Butler on Dec. 25, 2025. Mata and his wife went to a gas station after a call from their daughter claiming she had been assaulted and mistakenly believed Butler’s passenger was that daughter. Surveillance footage and court documents indicate Mata fired as Butler tried to leave; Butler later died at a hospital. Mata surrendered on Jan. 14, was released on $50,000 bond, and is due in court on Feb. 25.
Texas Father Charged After Shooting Amazon Driver He Mistook for Daughter’s Alleged Assailant
Houston Police DepartmentJonathan Ross Mata
Jonathan Ross Mata, 39, has been charged with murder after Houston police say he fatally shot 25-year-old Amazon driver Desmond Butler in what authorities describe as a case of mistaken identity.
The Houston Police Department says the shooting occurred around 1 a.m. on Dec. 25, 2025, in the 9900 block of Bellaire at a gas station parking lot. According to an HPD news release and local reporting, Butler pulled his gray Honda Pilot into the lot and passed a black GMC Acadia that was stopped at a pump.
How the Incident Unfolded
HPD reports that Mata and his wife had gone to the gas station after receiving a phone call from their daughter, who said she had been assaulted by her boyfriend and would be dropped off at that location. When Butler drove past the Acadia, the couple’s wife exited the vehicle, chased Butler’s car and attempted to open the rear passenger door because she believed their daughter was inside.
At the same time, Mata got out of the Acadia and fired at Butler’s vehicle as it left the lot. Surveillance video released by HPD shows the confrontation and the moments that followed. Butler was struck by gunfire, lost control and crashed into a pole in an adjacent parking area. Houston Fire Department paramedics transported him to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Houston Police DepartmentThe shooting suspect seen on surveillance video at the gas station parking lot on Dec. 25, 2025
Investigation and Statements
Investigators say Mata and Butler were strangers. Court documents cited by KHOU 11 state that after the crash the shooter approached the Honda, opened a door, looked inside and told occupants he was searching for his "kidnapped" daughter. He allegedly apologized and said he would call 911 — a call investigators later determined was never placed.
Three weeks after the shooting, Mata, his wife and their attorney went to HPD headquarters, where court papers allege Mata admitted to firing the shots. He turned himself in on Jan. 14 and was booked into the Harris County Jail; he has since been released on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 25.
According to reports, Mata told investigators he fired two shots to stop the Honda and claimed he did not realize he had struck anyone. He said he did not call 911 because he was "scared," per the court documents.
Butler’s sister, Destiny, told KHOU 11 the family is devastated. She said Desmond moved from Georgia to Houston in 2023 to work for Amazon, where he became a manager. "We just want answers on why him. My brother was a light of joy," she said.
Ongoing Coverage and Resources
The Houston Police Department continues to investigate the case. Surveillance footage and witness statements are part of the record referenced in media reports and court filings.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit RAINN.org for resources and support.
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