Boyfriend is arrested in Thanksgiving Day killing
Bexar County deputies arrested a 24-year-old man in connection with a Thanksgiving Day shooting that killed his girlfriend, court records show.
Paris Shaw was charged with murder on Saturday after 22-year-old Joanna Baker died several days following the shooting. Shaw had previously been arrested on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Deputies were called to the 10600 block of Barbwire Pass on Nov. 24 after a 911 caller said someone had been shot in the head. When deputies arrived, the residence’s front door was open and they could hear someone inside having difficulty breathing.
Baker was on a couch bleeding from her nose with a wound in the middle of her forehead, an affidavit supporting Shaw’s arrest said. She was transported to a hospital and put on life support, but medical staff were unable to save her life.
During the investigation, a woman came forward who said she was at the residence and heard four gunshots before she heard Shaw, also known as Sosa, say, “I shot her. I shot her. I thought the clip was empty. I didn’t mean to,” the affidavit said.
A second witness said he heard Shaw being “loud and belligerent” with his girlfriend. According to the witness, Shaw left the room briefly before he returned with a small rifle without the stock, stood in front of Baker and “emptied out a few rounds.” Shaw then stood in front of Baker and put the gun between her eyes, threatening to pull the trigger, the affidavit said.
Baker allegedly said, “Go ahead. I don’t care,” before Shaw pulled the trigger, the document continued.
Meanwhile, another witness told police that the two were arguing in a playful manner and that Shaw asked Baker whether she loved him as he put the gun to her head, to which Baker replied yes. The witness said that Shaw removed the magazine from the gun but didn’t clear the chamber.
Shaw was arrested on Nov. 27 by San Antonio police during an unrelated incident in which a man reported seeing someone looking into vehicles in the 6000 block of De Zavala Road. When officers arrived, Shaw attempted to flee on foot but was detained shortly after, according to the Bexar County
Sheriff’s Office. While Shaw was in custody, San Antonio police learned that he was wanted by the sheriff’s office in connection with the shooting of Baker.
When questioned by police, he tried to blame the shooting on the first witness.
He claimed the witness went to pick up the gun and put it behind the couch when the witness bumped Baker in the head causing the gun to go off, according to the arrest affidavit. He then recanted that account and said he was the one who bumped Baker accidentally with the gun.