Travis County jury finds man guilty of murder in shooting death of 17-year-old

A Travis County jury on Friday convicted a man of murder in the 2019 East Austin shooting death of a 17-year-old and sentenced him to 25 years in prison.

Reginald Williams, now 22, was 19 when investigators accused him and another man of shooting Emmet Infante Ramos, 17, in the back.

The other suspect, Elijah Malone, 24, pleaded guilty in January to murder and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

"Mr. Williams is contemplating appeal," said his attorney, Keith Lauerman.

Investigators allege that Infante Ramos was selling THC vape cartridges, and Williams and Malone shot him in order to rob him on Oct. 13, 2019, at Lyons Road and Fiesta Street.

Williams’ girlfriend later told police that Malone had asked Williams to come with him on a drug deal, according to the men's arrest affidavit. Williams searched online for "ammunition for Smith and Wesson" before the drug deal, prosecutors revealed during the trial.

Another woman, Infante Ramos' girlfriend, said she had driven with him to East Austin so he could sell THC vaping cartridges to two people, later identified as Williams and Malone, according to police. When they arrived, Infante Ramos got out of the car, but when he returned to the vehicle, someone pulled him back, she told police.

Infante Ramos' girlfriend heard gunshots and saw two men running, but it was too dark to see their faces, the affidavit says.

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Investigators don't know who pulled the trigger, prosecutors said during trial.

"I wish Emmet's family could know who the shooter was, but they can't," Assistant District Attorney Brandy Gann said during closing arguments.

Police examined Infante Ramos' phone and found that he had texted Malone about the price and amount of the THC vaping cartridges. Infante Ramos also sent Malone pictures and a video of the items, the affidavit says.

Police found five boxes of THC vaping cartridges in Malone's apartment, and three boxes of THC vape cartridges at Williams' apartment, the affidavit says. One of the boxes at Malone's apartment had the same batch number as a picture of a cartridge box Infante Ramos had sent to Malone.

Lauerman argued in trial that Williams was not involved in orchestrating a drug deal, robbery or shooting.

"There's no evidence he knew what was happening. ... He was at the wrong place at the wrong time, following his buddy," Lauerman said.

'Just didn't know better'

Infante Ramos was a student of East Austin College Prep, who played on baseball and football teams and had been taking boxing classes since he was 10 years old.

"He was a leader," said his boxing coach and family friend Zachery Martinez. "He made sure that everybody was involved, that everybody was good. He cared about his friends. He cared about his coaches. He cared about the people in his life. ... A lot of kids looked up to him."

Infante Ramos had previously won a silver medal in the USA Boxing South Texas Junior Olympic Tournament, Martinez said. Infante Ramos also played baseball for RBI Austin, or "Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities," a Christian baseball program.

Martinez and his wife attended the trial with Infante Ramos' family.

"It was a set-up," Martinez said of Williams and Malone's plan to rob Infante Ramos. "Emmet just didn't know better. That wasn't his thing."

Under Infante Ramos' online obituary, loved ones posted messages grieving his loss.

"Fly with the angels, mijo," one person wrote, using the Spanish nickname for "my son." "You left us with beautiful memories."