Scotty Lee Goble of Corsicana, is charged with murder in the death of Heriberto “Eddie” Ramirez Jr., 38, of Tyler.
TYLER, Texas — The mother of a Tyler taqueria owner killed in an October 2024 shooting took the stand Friday during the fourth day of the trial.
Scotty Lee Goble, of Corsicana, is charged with murder in the death of Heriberto “Eddie” Ramirez Jr., 38, of Tyler. Ramirez, co-owner of Junior’s Taqueria, was shot in the restaurant’s parking lot on Oct. 11, 2024. Goble pleaded not guilty Tuesday, with his attorneys arguing self-defense.
Court documents and testimony allege that an argument between Goble and restaurant employees began inside the business and escalated after a door was slammed, leading to a fight outside between Goble, his two sons, Eddie Ramirez’s brother Edgar Ramirez, and Eddie Ramirez. Goble then drew a gun and shot Eddie Ramirez.
Eddie Ramirez’s mother, Blanca Ramirez, was the worker who initially argued with Goble about drinks.
On Friday, she testified that she heard the gunshot that ultimately killed her son. At first, she thought it struck the taqueria building. Then she turned and saw her son holding his stomach before collapsing.
“I never thought it was going to be the last day of my son,” she said through a Spanish translator. “This man (Goble) had the anger to shoot at my son.”
Previous testimony indicated Eddie Ramirez was in the parking lot attempting to break up the fight between Edgar Ramirez and the Gobles after Edgar confronted them about the slammed door.
Before Eddie Ramirez was shot, Blanca Ramirez said she told her other son, Edgar, to leave, but it was impossible because he couldn’t separate himself from the Gobles, who she said were pushing him. She also testified that she didn’t see Goble’s baby in the area, as she was focused on her own children.
The trial will resume Tuesday morning after the Labor Day holiday, with Blanca Ramirez remaining on the stand. The state said it plans to call six to 10 more witnesses.