2 held in robbery now face murder charges

Two men have been charged with capital murder after the owner of an East Side convenience store who was shot during a robbery died from his injuries more than a year later.

The new charge was filed Sunday against Zion Talavera and Armando Narvaez, who have been in Bexar County Jail since July 2019, according to court records.

The store owner, Gemunu Gamarchchilage, died on Dec. 17 at his home in Wilson County. He was 58.

His cause of death is listed as complications of gunshot wounds, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. His manner of death was ruled a homicide.

According to an affidavit,narvaez, Talavera and Cami Jamar Payton, wore bandannas as they entered DMJ Groceries, 815 N. New Braunfels Ave., about 10:30 p.m. on July 30, 2019.

Gamarchchilage was attending the front desk as son Anjalo Gamarchchilage was lying down in a backroom.

Anjalo Gamarchchilage told police he heard two gunshots and ran to the front to find his father wounded on the ground.

According to court records, the three fled.the next day, police spotted a vehicle matching the description of the getaway car and gave chase. The three individuals attempted to flee on foot but were apprehended.

The affidavit says Talavera confessed to being the person who shot Gemunu Gamarchchilage.

“It was just about the money,” Talavera told police. He said the shooting was not supposed to happen.

Talavera is in jail awaiting trial on nine other charges including aggravated robbery, evading arrest or detention, and theft. His bail totals $755,600.

Narvaez also faces five other charges of aggravated robbery. His bail is set at $815,000.

In November, Payton was convicted of aggravated robbery in the case and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Gemunu Gamarchchilage was an immigrant from Sri Lanka who had been to 38 countries and came to the United States to live the “American Dream,” his obituary said.

Family members said he worked hard and owned many businesses, including DMJ Grocery.

The obituary noted that the businessman “fought for his life” in the 16 months after he was shot.