West Campus killings drug-related

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Police said a drug deal gone wrong lead to the deaths of Stacy Barnett, 22, and Johnathon Goosey, 21.

Austin police arrested James Richard "Ricky" Thompson, 19, Friday evening on drug-related charges, which are the result of an investigation which revealed Goosey had been selling marijuana to Thompson for his personal use and further distribution.

APD detectives said in a Sunday press conference that Thompson admitted to murder. According to APD and court documents, Thompson owed Goosey between $ 7,000 and $8,500 for marijuana, but he did not have the money to pay.

Instead, police said Thompson turned to murder to clear his debt.

"[Thompson] has said he knew that he owed [Goosey] money he couldn't pay," said APD Lt. Mark Spangler.

Spangler said Goosey's phone records led police to Thompson, who called Goosey within minutes of the shooting.

Court documents show cell phone records, multiple friends and even Thompson's roommate confirmed he was in the vicinity of the shooting at the time of the incident.

Court records indicate Thompson confessed to the homicides to someone he knew while the two were watching the news together at Thompson's residence and saw a report about the West Campus shootings on TV.

Documents describe Thompson walking his acquaintance through the events leading up to the shootings and what happened afterward, saying he shot the two in the head with a .22-caliber pistol acquired days before the killings.

One man who worked with Thompson at Mimi's Cafe in South Austin and said he used to live with Thompson.

"I don't want to believe that Ricky was caught up in something like that," the man said.

The man confirmed Thompson did use marijuana but said he is suspicious about the charges against his friend.

"I've never seen Ricky been pushed to violence before," the man said. "I've never seen him raise a hand against anyone else."

Detectives said Thompson and Goosey knew each other for at least three years.

"They were not social acquaintances," said Spangler, who described their relationship as drug-related. "They did not run in the same circles."

APD did not say where Goosey had been acquiring marijuana, but they did say he was distributing the drug to other individuals for it to be sold.

"Our case against Ricky Thompson is solid," said Spangler.

Spangler said APD detectives spoke in detail with Thompson about what happened. They described him as a mid-level distributor.

"He gave particular details... that only the person who committed this murder would know," said Spangler.

Thompson is being held at the Travis County Jail for three charges stemming from the Tuesday shootings.

Authorities booked him under two counts of capital murder and possession of marijuana, and he is being held without bail.

Police are not releasing a booking photo of Thompson to the media, pending photo lineups with possible witnesses. Thompson is from Lakeway, Texas.

Police said Barnett could be described as being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

"[There was] no proof she was using or participating in John's drug activity," said police.

Barnett and boyfriend Goosey were found dead with gunshot wounds just after 5 p.m. Tuesday when a friend of one of the victims discovered the bodies inside Barnett's apartment at 904 W. 21st St.

Barnett and Goosey were supposed to head to Houston for Goosey's mom's birthday celebration but never showed up.

According to the Austin-American Statesman online, the families of Barnett and Goosey released a statement after the arrest that reads:

"We are relieved that a suspect in the murder of our children has been taken into custody. While we understand the public's interest in this case, we are in the process of burying our children, so please respect our privacy."

Goosey graduated from The University of Texas in December 2008 and Barnett graduated in May 2009, according to the Goosey family. The couple had been dating for more than two years.

The families are planning joint funerals for the couple, both from the affluent West University area of Houston.

A visitation for Barnett and Goosey is scheduled for Sunday at George H. Lewis & Sons on Bering Drive in Houston from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be a vigil there from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The joint funeral is set for July 27 at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church on Buffalo Speedway in Houston. The service will begin at 10 a.m.

Below is video from the press conference: